A girl who loves both books and tea
I recently found some delicious looking book cakes online and though I would share some with you. It might give you inspiration to get baking or just make you want cake by either way you will get to see these beautiful decorated cakes. ( None of these cakes are my own but I may try and attempt them !)
Many Thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment your opinion on these cakes !)
I don’t think any book I have read has had a crappy ending however I do feel that ‘The Lost Witch’ by Melvin Burgess had a little bit of an anti-climactic ending. It didn’t end in the battle that it was built up to be.
I think that there has never been a series that I haven’t enjoyed as I tend to read within a genre I really like but I am sure I will come across one! I have however read individual books that I feel this way about as ‘The Lost Island of Tamarind’ by Nadia Aguiar. It was that this book was bad I think that it was just to complex a book at the age i was trying to read it.
I think that ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn had a plot twist that I didn’t see coming. The book has a very dramatic ending but I wasn’t quite expecting to end like it did.
I wouldn’t ever not read a whole genre of books however I would not necessarily be drawn to romantic books as I find the genre quite predictable. I am aware that it is a generalisation and I would say no to reading a good book within the genre but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
When the Hunger Games films first came out I felt that there was a hype around reading the books as well as watching the films however I have never felt the need to read the books. It didn’t help that I didn’t particularly enjoy the Hunger films past the first one.
I don’t really enjoy reading books that have a ‘love triangle’ within the story as I feel it is very predicatble in most cases. It is also a very common twist to see in books, primarily in the romantic genre.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment your Nope Tag thought)
‘Talking with Female Serial Killers’ is a book written by Christopher Berry-Dee, released in May 2018, which looks at the most chilling female serial killers in the world. Christopher Berry-Dee is a criminologist and author who has previously released books on true crime including ‘Talking with Female Serial Killers’ and ‘Monster’. The book looks at those women who not only kill but kill again and again.
In this book, Berry-Dee looks at the female killers who are the masterminds behind the murders as well those who kill under the influence of a partner such as Myra Hindley and Rosemary West. He looks at the motives behind their crimes as well as looking at those killers who were influences by being victims themselves or a witness to crime.
I enjoyed reading this book as I find learning why people kill fascinating however I felt that the book was confusing at times skipping between stories and events. The information given was necessary in explaining the crimes but I think it could have been written in a smoother structure as at times I felt lost and was insure what part I was reading. I also think this book’s title was misleading as there were no real interviews with any serial killers. There were quotes from previous interviews conducted by Berry-Dee and others however which helped to understand where the convicted females stand.
I have read a lot of reviews on this book and feel that a lot of them were unfair. The book is an interesting read and I did enjoy reading it even after what I said above. A lot of reviews stated that it was badly written and full of too many adjectives and metaphors however I do feel that this was the case due to the writer trying to get people more engaged as well as adding a little bit of humour to a dark book.
Overall, I would say that if you are interested in reading about female serial killers then it is a good book however do not expect for there to be lengthy interviews with them. I personally quite liked this book but do be aware than many people didn’t enjoy this book.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment your opinion on this book or if you have read another book about female serial killers)
Month: September
Theme: Into the Wild
This month saw another release of the subscription box ‘ Book Box Club’ but this wasn’t any old box as it was the 2 year anniversary of the company. This meant that there was an extra goodie within for those who bought the box.
Upon opening the box you are presented with the leaflet stating the theme and what’s included alongside the envelope with the date of the exclusive book club meeting.
These leaflets are always beautifully illustrated and this months was no exception. It was fitting with the themes as it features simplistic trees along side a bear and a fox.
Within the box there is an abundance of bookish goodies including a campers picnic bag by http://www.sassandbelle.co.uk so you can take your snacks on your adventures with you. There is also an into the woods scarf by Book Box Club which features quotes from the featured book. There is also a massage bar by Naked Sister to relax yourself after your exciting adventures alongside a Caveswater Candle. On top of all those goodies there is also a little pad to keep your plans together.
A lost boys notebook designed by Georgine Makes is also included in the box so you can journal and plan all your exciting adventures alongside sample chapters from Neal and Jarrod Shustermans book ‘Dry’.
As this was the two year anniversary of the company we were treated to a bonus book. The bonus book is ‘Damsel’ by Elana K. Arnold which isn’t due to be released until November. This book features a handsome prince, a distressed damsel and a fierce dragon with excitement throughout.
The featured book this month is ‘The Other Side of Lost’ by Jessi Kirby which is a story about when you take the time to remove yourself from technology and take an adventure. It follows a social media star who swaps her technology dependant life for a solo hike into the woods.
Yet again I highly recommend this subscription box and hope that you would enjoy Kate and Libby work as much as I do.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment if your are subscribed to book box club or have ever read the featured book)
When someone asks me who my favourite author is I really struggle to choose just one and that is why I have decided to write this blog post. I think anyone who says they have a definitive favourite author is lying or has just said the first one that pops into their minds as choosing just one is extremely difficult (for those who enjoy reading). Authors are all so different from each other; from their style of writing and their structure to the topics they choose to base their books on are all unique to themselves.
Saying that they are all unique is true in my opinion. Yes they may have been influenced by other authors and therefor their work may have moments where you notice this but no two authors have every book written in the same way as another. Every one has their own process and priorities when writing a book as well as having different timescales and plans.
I am telling you this basically just to say that I don’t have just one favourite author and I believe that authors that I haven’t even yet read could possibly make it onto this list in the future. The following are just some of the fiction writing authors I love and would recommend to anyone.
The above authors are not the only ones I love and I could easily continue this list but I had to stop somewhere and 10 seemed like a good amount.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment a few of your favourite authors or if some of the above are on your list as well)
Jinxed by Amy McCulloch is a YA science-fiction book that centres around a world of engineering and coding. In this world there is a young girl named Lacey Chu whose dream is to become a companioneer for the tech company Moncha. This company created the BAKU, your very own robotic companion who replaces the role of your smart phone.
I found this book was really entertaining and exciting as you got the chance to learn about this world and about what happens with the BAKU. It is also exciting to see a book based upon engineering and coding with a female lead character. The character of Lacey is very likeable and realistic and I think would resonate with young female readers as she shows that you can achieve your dreams. Lacey is a talented engineer whose best friend is a talented coder who are exciting as it allows the book to promote strong female leads in a world once thought of as a male world.
This book mixes the world of new technology and inventions with teenage drama and friendships. I think this is also a reason as to why I liked this book as it blends the excitement of the BAKU battles and new school drama effortlessly. You see Lacey deal with making new and maintaining friendship whilst exploring this exciting and eventful new world.
The ending leaves questions as well as answers as it ends leaving us wonder what happens to Lacey and her BAKU. It ends on a cliffhanger which leads you to think there is potential for a blossoming series within this technology focused world. Overall I really enjoyed this book as it was entertaining and realistic with strong leads. It didn’t really feature any of the hard-hitting topics that I would usually read about which added some light relief to my reading experience.
I would highly recommend this book and feel that it was well-written, structures with good characters.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please feel free to comment your opinion on this book or whether you intend on reading it)
Here are some tips to get out of a reading slump !
1. Push through and force yourself to read
I have done this so many times and I always get into the book after I have read a bit more.
2. Read a book that you know you love
If you read a book that is your favourite or know you like you are much more likely to want to read.
3. Reorganize your book collection
You might come across a book that you forgot you had or would like to read
4. Try to read a novella
Try to read a short story or novella to get yourself reading again before reading a huge novel.
5. Set yourself goals
Set targets of what you want to read in a time frame which may help you to continue reading them through the slump
These are just a few and often don’t work for everyone however it may just help you !
I hope you enjoyed this post.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment of these helped you or you have any more tips and tricks to get back reading)
Audio books have become much more popular now thanks to them being quick and easy to access and with more and more books being released in this format alongside the traditional paper there is much more choice. Audio books are often seen as a way to enjoy books whilst having a busy lifestyle without having to physically read something. I personally feel that audio books are a great way to experience a book however I still think that reading a paper copy is much more engaging and you become more invested in the book.
Although I feel as though listening to audio books doesn’t engage you as much as reading the book, it can often introduce people into the world of literature as it seems much more attainable to listen to something on your phone instead of carrying a book with you. You can listen to an audio book whilst travelling to school or work, whilst in bed going to sleep, whilst you are doing or working on another thing and can therefore be a great way to enjoy literature. It is much easier to multi task whilst listening to the story. I think that audio books are best when listening to an autobiography or memoir as it adds a bit of personality to the stories and experiences of the author. This is especially the case when the author themselves reads the book for the audio version. This can be seen in comedian/actress Amy Poehler’s book ‘Yes, Please’ where she reads her book out and adds more of her personality and shares more of her experiences through her tone and anecdotes. In her book there are also sections written by others such as Seth Meyers and her parents who get the chance to read their own parts and add their personality into their sections. It makes you feel as though she is telling you personally and that you are a part of this secret club. I think Amy Poehler’s audio version of her book is a great example of how to do an audio book and autobiography very well and makes a great book. It is a whole new experience to reading and can often introduce people to new genres and books they wouldn’t choose to read.
I think that reading the books allow you to engage more as you have your full attention on the book and the characters where as you don’t always have your full attention listening to an audio book. People often choose to listen to an audio book whilst doing something else and therefore they are not totally invested into it and often miss parts of the story. I believe this is the case for fictional books more that non-fiction as there are often sub-plots that need attention to understand. You also need to have technology that supports audio books as well as having power in that technology. You don’t need to have charge or power to read a book but you do to listen to an audio book. This leaves audio books less accessible to all.
Overall, I would say that audio books have more positives than negatives but it is completely personal whether you like to listen to them yourself. I personally enjoy listening to an audio book whilst travelling somewhere or as I fall asleep as it allows me to enjoy a book that I wouldn’t necessary choose to read. I think I will always prefer to read a physical book but I also appreciate listening to an audio book.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment if you enjoy listening to audio books or have any audio books that you would recommend)
Read and Drink Tea 