A list of books that I would love to read! Hope this could inspire you!
1. The Actors Life: A Survivors Guide – Jenna Fischer
2. Becoming – Michelle Obama
3. The Sandcastle Empire – Kayla Olson
4. The Melody – Jim Crace
5. The Power – Naomi Alderman
6. The Flower Girls – Alice Clark-Platts
Many thanks, Caitlin X
(PS please comment your reading wishlist!)
When it comes to reading different genres often suit different seasons and some people will only read at certain times of the year.
For me, I read all year round however in summer I can often find myself reading that tiny but more. Something about sitting outside in the sun with your book is so very appealing. I read more when I go on a relaxing holiday for example, sitting by the pool all day reading. I know people who only read in summer or on holiday as well and I think this is very common. Reading is relaxing and you can read without worrying about it overheating or having glare unlike devices such as phone’s or tablet. I also think audiobooks are more popular in the hotter months. If you are sitting sunbathing you can listen to a story and go into your own little world.
In summer more romantic books are read or comedic books as they tend to be more light hearted and perfect for relaxing. Call me by your name is an ideal summer read! This is not always the case as I don’t tend to read romantic books but it is a generalisation.
In winter I find reading quite cosy. Sitting in a warm room whilst it’s cold or rainy outside reading a new book is satisfying. I would think that this is when more crime novels and horrors are read as you are sitting inside whilst it is dark outside. Often people receive books for Christmas as well and I’d you are anything like me you can wait to read them. More time in spent indoors during the colder months so people can use this opportunity to catch up with their reading and finally read that book they have been meaning to for months.
Overall, it doesn’t matter when you read or what you read at certain time of the year but there is often a pattern with reading and the seasons.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment your opinion on reading throughout the seasons or if you have any different habits)
All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew is a psychological suspense story that was released in August 2018.
It follows the viewpoint of 3 people in the aftermath of a school shooting. You get to hear from the shooters mother, a victims mother and the detective inspector in charge of the investigation. I really enjoyed the structure of this book as it allowed you to look at three key people and how an event like that effects them.
It is a very intense story that is emotional to read but due to the fact it was a school shooting and events like that happen almost daily in places such as the USA it is necessary. It had to look at the events in a realistic way to help show the true nature of the event and the aftermath.
The book gripped you from the very beginning and it was written in such a clear way that it helped to portray the story excellently.
The media is also looked at and how the media can affect the people involved. All the victims killed can be looked at negatively as well as the shooters family but this shouldn’t be the case. No one deserves to be involved in such an event, we should grieve for the victims not turn them into monsters and I think the book shows this.
I really enjoyed this book and it had a huge impact on me as a reader. The events are something that effects thousands of people who have faced such a tragic time in the past and those who continue to face them. As a debut novel it is remarkable and powerful and a book I would 100% recommend.
I have a Q&A coming out at the end of the month with the author of this book , Claire Askew so look out for that,
Many thanks, Caitlin x
How Long Have You Been A Blogger?
I started blogging just under a year ago when I decided to finally start a blog dedicated to something I am passionate about.
When do you think you will stop?
I don’t plan on stopping ever to be honest as I love to write my thoughts and share them but that is unrealistic. At some point I imagine that I will stop or even blog less but I have no idea when. This summer I will be working abroad for the summer so my blogs may become more irregular however I hope to continue to blog throughout. (and after I finish I will definitely blog more again).
What is the best part?
For me the best part about blogging is being able to share my love and passion for reading. I am not bothered about how many people read and if its only one, I hope that they can take something from at least one of my posts. Whether that’s a recommendation or some tips i’m not too bothered as long as I can type my thoughts and press publish. I also love hearing feedback from those who do take the time to read my posts. (I do appreciate you). I have previously been able to publish Q&A with some of my favourite authors (and have more to be publishes) and I love being able to interact with authors and share their thoughts and tips with you.
What is the worst part?
In my opinion, the worst part about blogging is often thinking about blog posts. I love writing reviews and tbr posts however those in between posts I can sometimes struggle to find an idea that I like enough to post. On these occasions I allow myself time to research and take inspiration from other bloggers and authors.
How long does it take you to find/create pictures to use?
To be honest not that long, I tend to use book covers or posters that I create on Canva. I am not a very good photographer and I don’t think any of my photos are good enough to share! I am not too bothered though as the reason I blog is to share my thoughts not my photography skills. Although I do hope to put my own photos in my blogs as I keep blogging.
What author would you like to have on your blog?
I have had the opportunity to have some of my favourite authors on my blog already and I am extremely grateful for this. I would love to have Kayla Olsen, Jessi Kirby and Linwood Barclay. I am lucky to also have a Q&A with Claire Askew (author of ‘All the hidden truths) coming out at the end of the month!
How long does it take you to prepare a post?
I think this is completely dependent on the type of post. For reviews it ca take anywhere between 30 mins and 2 hours. For this post it has taken me about hald an hour to write. (I also pride myself on being able to type fast which speeds up the process!) I couldn’t give you one answer for this question.
I Hope you enjoyed this post and if you are a book blogger yourself answer the same questions.
Many thanks, Caitlin x
When it comes to marking your page when your in the midst of reading a good book do you use a bookmark or fold the corners of the page?
Personally, I tend to fold the pages of my book as when starting a new book I walkways forget my bookmark or they fall out when I’m carrying it about. I used to always use a bookmark as I was quite picky about keeping my books in pristine condition however I feel it unnecessary these days. It shows that the book has been read.
I don’t mind borrowing a book where the pages have been folded over as I do it myself but I know some people who would hate to see that. If you ever get a book at your local library it is doubtful it’s going to be in the best condition so do be aware of this if you are picky about keeping your books at their best! Often when studying people bookmark multiple pages at time. This is often done with sticky notes or bookmarks however I have seen many with folded corners.
I have a large collection of bookmarks as well so it isn’t that I don’t have any! I understand why people use bookmarks and occasionally I still do. When you want to keep your book in good condition with no damaged pages then bookmarks are the way to go. I very rarely have a book that is in perfect condition!
So if your ever out and start a new book without a bookmark there’s a choice to made: it’s either carry a bookmark at all times in case you ever forget yours or sacrifice your perfect pages!
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment which you prefer: bookmark or folded page.)
Bucket Lists are something that is becoming more and more popular to create whether that is a list of things to do before your 30 or before you have children. This varies between individuals and what is on the list is vastly personal.
This list is different however as it is all fictional or to do with fiction books.
Many Thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment what you would include in your fictional bucket list!
This Splintered Silence by Kayla Olson is a YA Science Fiction novel set on the Lusca Space Station. Ever since every first generation crew member was killed by a deadly virus Lindley Hamilton has had to step up and become commander like her mother. Lindley and her 5 fellow friends step up to become the people in charge and we follow Lindley’s journey as she faces challenge after challenge. After members of the surviving population start to die she must figure out why and how to stop more deaths.
I really enjoyed this book and I was quite surprised that I did. I am not usually a fan of science fiction books or books set in the future however this book had mystery and suspense throughout. As we read we find out what exactly is happening on the space station alongside Lindley and are given no extra information which allows the reader to find out what has actually happened right at the end of the book at the same time as the characters. The story line is engaging and well thought out with challenges such as lack of water that is generally only something that relates to being in space.
Lindley Hamilton is a strong female lead in this novel and we see how she changes after every new challenge appears. She is vulnerable like everyone else and we do get to see that side of her as she copes with becoming commander so young and with little inexperience. Her mother greatly influences her time as commander and we can see how she puts this into practice. Although all the first gen crew members and the survivors parents are no longer there we can see how they are helping the characters every day. She has been thrown into a very intense role and we get the chance to see inside her head and understand exactly what she is feeling and thinking.
I really liked the characterisation in this book. They are realistic and genuine. They are not all portrayed as completly capable and knowledgable and we can see the strain the deaths have put on them. As new deaths appear and challenges including low food and water supplies we see how the relationships between the characters change. This novel is strongly character based which I enjoyed as you got to see them grow. The novel often focuses more on the characters reactions (mainly Lindley as it is written from her POV) that the actual events themselves which is an intriguing read.
The structure of this novel is something I really enjoyed as well. It is written in short chapters which often makes me read more in a sitting. If I am reading and decide to stop I often say to myself ‘the next chapters only a couple pages long, I will read that and then stop’. I rarely say that once as well. It think this obviously says something about the story as I don’t want to put the book down however shows how the writer can use the structure to this advantage.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to readers of YA, Science Fiction or Mystery novels as it contains elements of all. I would also recommend this book to readers who like a strong character based book like myself. I really enjoyed this book and the style of writing and I would love to read more from this novel in the future!
Many thanks, Caitlin x
(PS please comment if you have every read this book or have any Science Fiction recommendations)
