Read and Drink Tea

Book Box Club – October

Fantasy Lands

This months book box club subscription had the theme ‘Fantasy Lands’. This proved exciting as I didn’t really know what to expect from this box.

This months bookish goodies included a Narnia beanie hat which was created by book box club for this box which is perfect for the winter months. The box also contained crystal soap named ‘Into the Fires of Mordor’ by Pretty Suds UK. There was also a little tin of Mad Hatter’s Tea by the Tea People. You can drink this mint chocolate tea whilst eating your Coraline biscuit which was also featured.

On top of all that you were also given a ‘As Travers’ tote bag which featured artwork by Liana Kangas and Briana Mora. Perfect for transporting your bookish goodies! A ‘Bridge of Clay’ postcard could also be found along side a sample from the book ‘Three Strikes’.

The main feature of these boxes are of course the books. This month featured the book ‘The Light Between Worlds’ by Laura Weymouth. This book is about what happens when two sisters are returned to the real world after having been previously transported to a magical realm. One sister thrives whilst the other struggles. Until four words change everything:

‘ Your sister is missing’

The books follows Phillipa as she discovers what happened to her sister Evie. Did she get make it back to the realm they came from?

The book is also signed by the author which adds further interest.

The book box club also includes an invite to the clubhouse where you can join an online book club with the offer. You get the opportunity to ask the author about the book and themselves.

Yet again I highly recommend this subscription box!

Many thanks, Caitlin x

( PS please comment if you have bought this subscription box or read the featured book!)

What I am currently reading

At the moment I am currently reading ‘The Perfect Silence’ by Helen Fields. This book is the latest installment in the DI Callanach Series. If you have read my previous blog posts you will know that I love this series and I am really excited to finish reading this one.

perfect silence

The book is based upon the lives of DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner as they tackle the case of a murdered young woman. The case is peculiar and for this reason I am finding the book really interesting. It is quite unique and unlike the previous books in the series. This alongside the knowledge we already have and are discovering about DI Callanach and DCI Ava Turner its adds dimension to the story line.

I have read about half up until this point and I can’t wait to read more and explore the story and see the investigation go further. The book features gruesome crimes yet exciting friendships.

Upon looking at reviews, this book seems to get great ones. With majority being 4 or 5 stars on amazon however I did notice that a lot of the reviews said it was good but not necessarily as good as the previous books in the series. I am excited to see if I think that myself.

I would highly recommend reading the first three installments in this series as i absolutely loved them . We see a horrible crime with an exciting investigation whilst delving into the lives of the two main detectives.

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please comment if you have ever read this book or intend to)

Book Covers

“You should never judge a book by its cover”

dont judge a book.jpg

This is a common statement heard in many different contexts however I think in the context of literal books it isn’t quite like that. I believe that unless you are sent random books or buy one with the cover hidden we always judge a book by its cover.

I think that book covers are a major factor when picking a new book. It can greatly influence your choice. If it is aesthetically pleasing then you are more likely to choose that book. I am personally guilty of doing such a thing and I do feel as though this is the wrong thing to do but I just can’t help it. I believe that book subscriptions have really broadened my choices and changed my mind slightly about this. I have received books that I wouldn’t normally choose based off the cover and this has shown me that the cover doesn’t equate to the book.

I also think that when it comes to series it affects your judgment. One of my reaiding pet peeves is when they change the covers of series throughout and therefor they do not match. I will buy the first few in a series then they will change the theme. As I am a bit of a perfectionist it really annoys me as they don’t all look the same 😊. I am aware that this is completely irrelevant to the story but I thought I would just share it. Maybe this annoys you too!

Overall, I would agree that we shouldn’t judge a cover by its book but it’s so hard not to. I also feel as though sometimes the cover doesn’t match the book. I am also aware that this isn’t always the fault of the authors so I feel that more people should understand this !

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS I know this blog post is short but I hoped you enjoyed it! Please comment your opinion on book covers! )

Journals

Journals have always been a good way to keep your thoughts organised and together and this has not changed. Recently, I feel as though journals have become much more popular again to keep your thought structured.

People use journals in multiple ways; to plan their time, to record the past and to put their ideas and plans in written form. I personally don’t really have a journal per say however I do have a book where I sometimes record my thoughts on certain books, what I would like to read next and what I have read in the past. This not only helps me keep my opinions on books together but also helps with my blog posts. If I have a thought about certain books I write them down and reference them when writing my posts. I find this extremely helpful as when I am writing a post I can struggle with trying to remember exact thoughts on the book I was reading.

Journals can be great fun and highly creative as it is common for people to design their journal in a way that works the best for them. Using different structures and content and pairing them with illustrations and doodles.

I personally think they are a great help and perfect for those who feel like they have to write everything down (like myself). I would also recommend it for those who write blog posts on any subject as it allows you to organise your thoughts and plan your posts. It can often bring more structure to your thoughts and allow you to look back on these when necessary.

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please comment your opinion on journals and whether you use them !)

Buying Books Online vs In Person

My opinions on buying books vs buying books from a shop! They may help you if your not sure what you want to do when purchasing your next book but they are mainly just a few pros for each !

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please comment if you have anything to add to these lists or you want to share your opinion!)

The Other Side of Lost

‘The Other Side of Lost’ is my new favourite book.

There are no crimes, mysteries or gruesome murders but it’s still my new favourite book. It is awe inspiring and beautifully written. I was engaged from the get go and loved every moment. I just finished reading it two days ago and I already want to read it again!

I think that Jessi Kirby has written an amazing book. It features a realistic character who faces the big question, who am I? It features an online influencer in the beginning who finds herself after experiencing a devastating loss. She is a lovely character who has put on a mask for the world to see in order to hide her true self. I am glad to have discovered Mari and see her journey of personal development. It may be fictitious but after every sentence I read I became more invested in her journey. She is likable and relatable. Bri is an inspiring character also. She is the center of the story and I think that is an important factor. She lived her life doing exactly what she loved and wanted to do. I want to be like Bri.

I think that ‘the other side of lost’ is a great metaphor for life right now. Everyone is becoming more obsessed with social media and how they are portrayed on it. Take the time to look at who you really are and what you really want. Follow your dreams, not your followers !

The book deals with the sensitive subject of loss and although it is a major part of the book it is not what the book is about. It shows how loss can effect someones life. If we loose a person close to us it makes us think, like it did for Mari. In her case, it made her look to her childhood and all the dreams she has with her cousin which she didn’t fulfill. She decides to go on the John Muir Trail, a hiking trail that they had both dreamed of completing together in honour of Bri. It began with wanting to complete Bri’s hike but ended with Mari finishing her own.

The book also deals with friendship and how you can find the best relationships when you least expect it, Mari stumbles upon a group of hikers and we get to see how their relationships develop. This adds extra depth to the story and makes a more relevant story about how to deal with new friendships and meeting new people.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone and I mean anyone. It is a beautiful novel which I think would suit the majority of readers. I would like to thank Jessi Kirby for writing this book and I would also like to thank Kate and Libby from Book Box Club for including it in their ‘into the woods box’. If they hadn’t included it in doubt I would have ever read it.
I love this book, please take the time to read it !

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please comment if you have read this book or if you are going to!)

Some Bookish Cakes

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 !)

Source : a very bookish cake, Frankie Magazine

Many Thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please comment your opinion on these cakes !)