The Weekly Brief

Happy Sunday!

Apologies for the lateness in this post, I will be honest I got distracted making a disastrous carrot cake. Really not one of my best bakes.

Anyway, here is what I have been up to on the blog this week.

Posts this Week

Currently Reading

Thoroughly enjoying this so far.

No books acquired this week as I am waiting to see what books I might get for Christmas.

I hope everyone has had a good week reading and blogging and I hope everyone has a good run up to Christmas.

Happy Reading

Jingle Bell Book Tag

Hello!

I haven’t done a festive book tag this year and have seen this one around and thought I would have a go. Please feel free to join in and drop me a comment if you have taken part as I would love to see your answers.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You…” | What book do you want to see under the Christmas Tree?

This is a tricky one because I have a lot of books that I would like to see under the Christmas tree. The one I will choose is The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I know it is a trilogy but it is what I want under the tree. I love Hobb and I will be honest it has been a long time since I have read any Hobb but the Folio Society edition of the trilogy looks beautiful.

“Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time…” | What book that you have read this year have you enjoyed the most?

I’ve read so many good books this year! My favourite must be The Existence of Amy by Lana Grace Riva, this book really made me think and I thought it was brilliantly well written.

“It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” | Which book has most festive look to it?

I have read a lot of festive reads so far this December but I think the most festive I have read so far has got to be Christmas at Highclere by The Countess of Carnarvon. This put me in a really festive mood and I just could not put it down.

Elf | What book unleashes your inner child?

Easy! Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I love this book it makes me think of Christmas and magic and just all sorts of wonderful things. I have recently read the illustrated version and that made me unleash my inner child even more.

The Grinch | Your favorite villain…

My favourite literary villain is definitely Bellatrix Lestrange. Yes, she is evil and completely mad but I think she is great and I always enjoy reading her scenes in the books. I also thinks Helena Bonham Carter portrays her perfectly in the films.

The Holiday | Name your favorite TWO couples…

I know it is probably a really common answer but Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are my number one favourite couple closely followed by Sam Vimes and Lady Sybil Vimes. Sam and Sybil just work perfectly together and their relationship always makes me giggle.

What book would you like to give as a present to your followers?

Another tricky question, so I think I would like to give my followers a copy of my favourite book/trilogy. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R Tolkien but would be my gift to you all.

So there are my answers.

Happy reading.

WWW Wednesday: 16/12/2020

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I can’t believe we are back to Wednesday again, time seem to be flying by at the moment. I hope this post finds you all well and not to stressed as the festive season approaches.

So here is what I have been up to with my reading.

What I am Currently Reading

Literally just started it so not much to say so far.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

Just finished Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights yesterday and couldn’t put it down, review will follow shortly.

Christmas is Murder by Val McDermid review here.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling review here.

What I think I will Read Next

The Christmas reading list is going down and I am really surprised just how quickly I am getting through my Christmas books.

Please drop me a comment for a bookish chat and of course please leave your WWW Wednesday link and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Winter 2020-2021 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.

Happy Tuesday!

I have so many books on my TBR list but I will try and select ten books that I think I will read over the winter. I like to read a Jane Austen novel over the New Year and into January so that is one easy choice.

Here are my ten books…

  1. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd – This is one of my Willoughby Book Club books that I am very excited to read.
  2. Dissolution by C. J. Sansom – This is my buddy read with my bestie that I will be starting on the 1st of January
  3. The House on Vesper Sands by Paraie O’Donnell – Another Willoughby Book Club read
  4. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline – My husband is currently reading this so I hope to read it in January once I have finished all my Christmas reading.
  5. Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen by Alison Weir – Been on my TBR for way too long and really want to read it soon.
  6. Lady Susan by Jane Austen – I have never actually read this so I think it is high time I sorted it.
  7. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis – I just think this will be a good cosy read for the winter.
  8. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie – The start of reading more Agatha Christie challenge
  9. Olive, Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter – I can’t wait to read this as I love the videos on youtube.
  10. Star Trek Discovery: Die Standing by John Jackson Miller – Another book that has been sat on my TBR for way too long.

So there is my TTT. Please drop me a link with your TTT and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading.

WWW Wednesday: 9/12/2020

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Happy Wednesday!

I am absolutely loving my Christmas reading at the moment and I seem to be flying through books which is brilliant.

So here is my week in books.

What I am Currently Reading

I’m just over half way through with this and sadly I have only enjoyed one story so far. I really hope it gets better.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I enjoyed all of these books and highly recommend them. I’ve only reviewed two of them so far, so here are the links: Skipping Christmas | Christmas at Woolworths.

What I Think I will Read Next

My Christmas reading list this December is above so it will be one of these books but not sure which. As usual it all depends on my mood.

So there is my WWW Wednesday! Please drop me a comment if you want a chat and of course please drop me the link to your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Top Ten Tuesday: The Nutcracker

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.

Hello!

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie but with a wintry festive feel. With this in mind I thought I would go for different copies of The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Every December I read a different version of The Nutcracker. This can be translated by different people or just a different edition but my favourites are always the ones with pretty illustrations or like last year a pop up book!

So here we go…

First up is the one I have ready to read this year, the illustrations look really nice so I am looking forward to reading it.

This was last year’s read and I must admit I got very excited when I discovered it. It is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend it.

This is another beautiful edition but it is big so not easy to read for too long. This was 2018’s Christmas read.

I have the full set of these little Christmas books and I absolutely love them. This one was 2017’s.

Now you might notice this isn’t actually by Hoffmann but it is the story but it is Dumas’ adaptation and this is also the start of my tradition. I bought this when I went to the German Market in Birmingham with my then future husband and we took a trip to Waterstones and I picked this up and then read it through December 2016.

These next ones are future editions that I would one day like to buy and read.

So there is my Top Ten Tuesday and one of my Christmas traditions. Have you got any Christmas book traditions? Please drop me link to your Top Ten Tuesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

The Weekly Brief

Happy Sunday!

Another week has gone by and I must admit I am thoroughly enjoying all my Christmas reading. I find Christmas books go particularly well with hot chocolate, a warm blanket and Christmas decorations in the background.

Here is what I have been up to in the blog this week.

Posts this Week

Books I am Currently Reading

Books Acquired this Week

So there is my week and yes I know I said no more buying Christmas books but I just couldn’t help myself! I will try to do better and not buy anymore… I really will try.

Happy Reading!

The Willoughby Book Club #3

Hello!

Today my last book of my birthday present arrived from the Willoughby Book Club. I love getting these monthly book parcels so much, they really give me something to look forward to at the beginning of each month. So here is the book I got for December.

I have never come across Jess Kidd before so I am rather excited to try a new author.

I really do love the Willoughby Book Club, I love the beautifully wrapped books and the fantastic books they choose each month. Due to this I have subscribed to the Book Club for another 12 months so for each month of 2021 I will receive a lovely new book and I can’t wait!

Due to me subscribing for another 12 months Willoughby Book Club have given me a link that if people use they can get 10% off so I thought I would share it with you all just in case you also wanted to join this fantastic Book Club. For the code click here. The code expires on the 25th February 2021.

Please drop me a comment if you are a fellow member or have read the book.

Happy Reading

Christmas Reading List 2020 Update

Hello!

I thought a little update was required. I have now read 3 of my Christmas books on my list and I have ordered more which was very naughty of me but I just couldn’t help myself.

So here are the books I have read and I will be honest I absolutely loved and they have really helped me get into the festive spirit.

A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

A Midwinter Promise by Lulu Taylor

Here are the books I have left to read and I know I will never get through them all but I live in hope and my Goodreads challenge is falling behind so I am hoping my Christmas reading will help me catch up.

So there is my current Christmas Reading list. Please drop me a comment if you want to chat about any of these books.

Happy Reading

November 2020 Wrap Up

Wow, how did the end of November arrive? I am getting so excited about Christmas and my Christmas books are really helping me get into the festive spirit. Today I am sending my husband in to the loft to get the decorations down.

November has been a really good reading month and I appear to be catching up on my Goodreads reading challenge.

So here are the bookish stats!

I will be honest I don’t think the page number chart is quite correct because Story Graph didn’t have the correct editions for a few of the books I read, but they are close enough.

Books I Read in November (click the picture for the review)

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime by Oscar Wilde

Pages: 50 pages

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Rossetti Poems by Christina Rossetti

Pages: 256

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Pages: 416

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

The Ickabog by J. K. Rowling

Pages: 304

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

A Midwinter Promise by Lulu Taylor

Pages: 546

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲

Sonnets by William Shakespeare

Pages: 160

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

Pages: 400

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

So that is my November wrap up. Please drop me a comment if you have read any of these books.

Happy Reading!