Good morning everyone and happy Friday! It’s almost the weekend whoop!
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to be more organised and try to keep a reading journal. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while so with the extra Christmas money I earned I thought I’d treat myself to this beautiful journal from Martha Brook London.
I absolutely love it, especially the beautiful colours and the fact it has a cloth bound cover! I have a thing about books with cloth bound covers 😍 .
There is a reading tracker in picture form which I think is a great idea (swipe to see picture). I don’t think you’re meant to write the book names but I thought it would be good to keep a visual of them all in one place. There are two pages for each book you’ve read which gives you lots of room to write notes about the book. There’s even a section for quotes which I think will get lots of use
Best of all? There are lots of blank pages at the back to make lists! I’ve used some of these to write all my book challenges in so everything is in one place.
I’m determined to keep going with it as I think it will be a great record to have and I’m hoping to take it into work so I have notes on the books I’ve loved to hand when providing customers with recommendations.
Huge thanks to the lovely @acottageofbooks for the recommendation!
Good morning everyone I thought I’d do another One Book Leads To Another feature today. I read Maurice And Maralyn last year and absolutely loved it. I’ve always been drawn to real life survival stories and their story was a very special one.
I’ve been hearing lots of great things about The Wager and I’m looking forward to diving into another shipwreck story soon. This one is historical and about an event I don’t know anything about which I always enjoy.
Maurice And Maralyn is out 29th February 2024 and if you’d like to read my review you can find it on my blog.
Do you like real life survival stories? Which ones have you read?
Maurice And Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst
What begins as an eccentric English love story turns into one of the most dramatic adventures ever recorded…
Maurice and Maralyn couldn’t be more different. He is as cautious and awkward as she is charismatic and forceful. It seems an unlikely romance, but it works.
Bored of 1970s suburban life, Maralyn has an idea: sell the house, build a boat, leave England — and its oil crisis, industrial strikes and inflation — forever. It is hard work, turning dreams into reality, but finally they set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway there, their beloved boat is struck by a whale. It sinks within an hour, and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
On their tiny raft, over the course of days, then months, their love is put to the test. When Maurice begins to withdraw into himself, it falls upon Maralyn to keep them both alive. Their pet turtle helps, as does devising menus for fantasy dinners and dreaming of their next voyage.
Filled with danger, spirit and tenderness, this is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive — not just at sea, but in life.
The Wager by David Grann
On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.
Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.
The Japanese bestseller: a tale of love, new beginnings, and the comfort that can be found between the pages of a good book.
When twenty-five-year-old Takako’s boyfriend reveals he’s marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru’s offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his shop.
Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, the Morisaki Bookshop is a booklover’s paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building, the shop is filled with hundreds of second-hand books. It is Satoru’s pride and joy, and he has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife left him five years earlier.
Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the shop.
And as summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.
Quirky, beautifully written, and movingly profound, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will appeal to readers of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, The Cat Who Saved Books, and anyone who has had to recover from a broken heart.
My Review:
Days At The Morisaki Bookshop is a cosy, light-hearted read that is perfect for book lovers.
Firstly I loved the setting in the book which has made me all the more determined to visit Japan one day. The idea that there is a whole district just for second hand bookstores appealed to my bookish heart and made me run to google to see pictures of it for myself. The book also allows the reader to explore some of the Japanese mountains alongside the characters which sounded really beautiful too. I found it fascinating to learn more about Japanese culture, especially their use of shrines for praying and their ritual of bowing to each other when they meet.
The character’s are all interesting creations that I enjoyed following throughout the book. I’m not sure I ever really warmed to the main character Takako sadly, though I did feel sorry for her and the situation she suddenly finds herself in. She just seemed a bit standoffish at times and quite opinionated about other people. My favourite character was her uncle who I warmed to instantly with his wonderful attitude to life and the lovely advice that he gives to Takoko when she is at her lowest.
I thought the book had a steady pace to it and I soon found myself emerged into the bookshop world. The author has truly written a book to appeal to any book lover and it was wonderful to watch Tatoko rediscover her love of reading. It was great to follow her in her search for new authors and to see her new joy of reading slowly heal her. Part of me does wish the book had just been set in the bookshop as I would have been happy just hanging out there and learning more about the fantastic community that surrounds the bookshop but then I wouldn’t have got to explore more of Japan.
I chose this for the Rossiter book club read last month and I do recommend it as a book club read as I think there is lots to discuss.
About The Author:
Satoshi Yagisawa was born in Chiba, Japan, in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, his debut novel, was originally published in 2009 and won the Chiyoda Literature Prize.
Good afternoon I was lucky enough to receive a copy of The Life Brief by Bonnie Wan recently. Like everyone else probably I want to start the new year with a fresh, positive start so this book really appealed to me.
I’m hoping to read the book a chapter at the time over this month and I look forward to trying to implement some of the advice into my life.
Huge thanks to Milly from Transworld for sending me a copy of this book.
Out 18th January 2024.
Book Synopsis:
We all have moments when we doubt the path we’re on. So ask yourself: what do you really, really want? And how can you make that happen?
Making meaning out of messiness, The Life Brief distils the practice of brand strategy into its simplest, clearest, and most effective form to help you realign your path with your dreams – personally, professionally, culturally and spiritually.
World-leading strategist Bonnie Wan first encourages you to Get Messy, with ways to cut through limiting beliefs and false assumptions about what’s possible. Then her guidance to Get Clear offers prompts for finding clarity around what you truly, deeply want. And finally, Get Active catapults you into the steps to making those desires a reality.
This blueprint has already been transformative for thousands of other people, and now we can all learn how to break through the clutter, identifying the fears and beliefs holding us back, and create a life that is wholly our own.
You cannot have it all, but you can have all that matters.
About The Author:
Bonnie is a Partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, one of Fast Company’s 2021 Most Innovative Companies In The World. As a career brand strategist she has been celebrated as an Ad Age Leading Woman for 2023 and 2022’s Chief Strategy Officer of the Year. She has spent the last three decades helping brand titans get clear about their essence so they can grow and innovate from that place of clarity and purpose.
In 2010, during a crisis of meaning, she wrote a creative brief for her life and The Life Brief was born. Her resulting Life Brief not only saved her marriage but kicked off a decade of personal and professional adventure, paved with unexpected twists and unimaginable gifts.
Today, Bonnie teaches others how to get clear, get creative, and get courageous about living without regret through her keynote talks, workshops, and retreats, including SXSW, Jane Goodall’s Global Hope Summit, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s “In Goop Health.” She continues to share The Life Brief with companies and communities such as Accenture, Apple, Bain Consulting, Change.org, Google, Omnicom, Weiden & Kennedy, Womentum, and more.
When she’s not leading and teaching strategy, or declaring her next Life Brief, you’ll find her with her husband, four kids, and Charlie the dog, adventuring in nature and sleeping under the stars.
Good morning everyone! Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books from Rebecca Ross.
Firstly I must admit I’ve done it again and bought the sequel before I’ve even read the first book in the series- but I’m confident I’m going to love this fantastic sounding series. I’m hoping to finally read Divine Rivals this month then Ruthless Vows the month after.
Have you read any books in this series?
Divine Rivals
NO GOD NO CREATURE NO WAR CAN COME BETWEEN THEM
The latest from the number one SUNDAY TIMES bestseller Rebecca Ross
When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, their fate depends on their facing the depths of hell … together.
After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again …
All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris’s best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.
But when Iris’s letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands – that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper – an unlikely magical connection forms.
Ruthless Vows
Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over.
Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again – but this time for the enemy.
When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious… and strangely familiar.
As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.
About The Author:
Rebecca Ross is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults.
She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEEN’S RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG.
When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog.
Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing gods, and enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has somehow bound himself to a young noble, and they are both on the run from unknown assassins.
Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favour.
Pursued by demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning – something is rotting at the heart of their world, and only they can be the ones to stop it.
My Review:
Godkiller is an incredibly gripping, exciting and absorbing read that I’d rate as one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read.
The story is told from the point of view of 4 main characters Kissen a god hunter, Elo an ex knight, Skedi a small god and Inara a young noble girl. These characters are very different to each other and all of them bring different things to their mission. It was great watching them gradually grow closer while learning to trust and care for each other. They all start off wanting different things from their adventure but as they travel toward their destination, secrets are revealed and their priorities start to change. Kissen was my favourite character. I loved how strong and determined she was but also how she developed a softer side toward the group as the story continues. The relationship between the group was really heartwarming and it was great to see how much it had changed by the end.
I was quickly drawn into the story and into the character’s world. There was always something happening to keep me reading and I soon found it very hard to put the book down. The mission the characters find themselves on was very intriguing and I enjoyed going on the journey with the characters, watching everything slowly unfold. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and ensured the story was very exciting indeed. I wasn’t able to work out which way the story was going which I always love and the many revelations toward the end took me completely by surprise!
The ending was absolutely brilliant and I think I read the last 80 pages completely glued to the book, snapping at anyone who dared to interrupt me. The book does end on a huge cliff hanger and I’ve found myself thinking about the book constantly since I finished. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out so I can find out what happens next and spend some more time with characters that I’ve grown really fond of.
About The Author:
Hannah is the #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of Godkiller.
She has her heart in Scotland and her roots in the north of England.
Godkiller is the first book in a trilogy which will be translated into Portuguese, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish.
Good morning everyone I thought I’d do a little reading update today:
Last: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner & When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solá
I finished Godkiller last night and it was absolutely amazing! I seriously couldn’t put it down and I’m so excited for the sequel out in February! I’ve actually got a few more pages left on When I Sing, Mountains Dance but I’ve enjoyed it. It’s definitely different to what I normally read.
Now: A Winter In New York by Josie Silver & One Of The Good Guys by Araminta Hall
I’m a few chapters into A Winter In New York but I know I’m going to love it already. I’ve always loved books set in New York (one of my favourite cities) and I’m excited to read more soon. I’ve been hearing lots of great things about One Of The Good Guys so I’m hoping to read that next.
Next: Piglet by Lottie Hazel & The Search Party by Hannah Richell
I’m then hoping to read Piglet and The Search Party which are two of my most anticipated books this month.
Today is the kids last day of holiday and they have already decided what they want to do. We’re having a quiet morning, their favourite lunch, then going to the bookshop so they can spend their book vouchers.
Good morning everyone I’m on the blog tour for The Widow’s Choice by Nancy Revell today.
I’m a huge fan of this author and count her amazing The shipyard Girls series as one of my favourite series ever. You can therefore imagine my excitement when I was offered a copy of the Widow’s Choice her newest book.
I’ve already read the first few chapters and I’m hooked! I’m very excited to read more soon.
Huge thanks to Sarah and Penguin for my copy of this book.
Out Now!
Book Synopsis:
The brand-new novel from the author of the bestselling Shipyard Girls series.
1949, County Durham.
From the Shipyards of Sunderland to Lady of the Manor . . .
When Angie marries her sweetheart Quentin and moves into Cuthford Manor to begin their new life together, she feels like the luckiest woman in the world.
But Quentin falls victim to a tragic accident and Angie’s life is left devastated. Now, along with the prospect of rebuilding her life, she is faced with an impossible choice that will have far-reaching consequences for herself and those she loves most.
Angie will need to draw on the help of her family, the community of Cuthford Manor and her old friends from the shipyards if she’s to find happiness again.
About The Author:
Nancy Revell is the author of twelve titles in the bestselling Shipyard Girls series – which tells the story of a group of women who work together in a Sunderland ship yard during the Second World War. This new novel features some of the characters from the world of the Shipyard Girls series in a new County Durham setting. Her books have sold more than half a million copies across all editions.
Before that she was a journalist who worked for all the national newspapers, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She also wrote amazing and inspirational true life stories for just about every woman’s magazine in the country.
Nancy was born and brought up in the North East of England and she now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Paul.
Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. I was good and didn’t buy any books (apart from presents) during December so I had a few pre-orders waiting for me at the shop:
❤️Diva by Daisy Goodwin * 🧡 When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solá 💛The Life Brief by Bonnie Wan * 💚The Salt Path by Raynor Winn 💙 Assistant To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 🩵 Orbital by Samantha Harvey 💜The House Of Dudley by Joanne Paul 🩷The Wager by David Grann 🤍The Unmaking Of June Farrow
I’ve heard good things about all these books either from friends on here or from customers at the shop. The lovely @mel_lovesbooks talks highly of Assistant To The Villain and @dems_book_den really enjoyed The Unmaking Of June Farrow. Do go check out their reviews on their profiles!
Out of these I’m currently reading When I Sing, Mountains Dance as part of my #24countriesin2024 challenge and then I want to read Wager as I’ve heard lots of great things.
I’m working today which is always fun so if you live near Malvern do come and say hi!
Good afternoon everyone, I hope you’re having a good Saturday! I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this fantastic looking book through the post today along with this rather yummy looking packet of biscuits.
I’m a huge fan of Daisy Goodwin and I’m very excited to read this book soon with some of the biscuits (if they last that long….🤣).
Huge thanks to the tagged publisher for sending this to me.
What are your favourite types of biscuit?
Out 14th March 2024.
Book Synopsis:
In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she’s the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.
When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she’s found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
And then, suddenly, it’s over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.
In this remarkable novel, Daisy Goodwin brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unremitting drive and natural chic made her a legend. But it was only in confronting the heartbreak of losing the man she loved that Maria Callas found her true voice.
About The Author:
Daisy Goodwin is a writer and television producer.After reading history at Cambridge, she went to Columbia Film School as a Harkness Fellow. After ten years at the BBC making arts documentaries, she left to join the independent sector and created a number of programmes including Grand Designs which is now in its 18th year on Channel 4.
In 2005 she started Silver River productions, which she sold to Sony in 2012. Alongside her tv work , Daisy has written a memoir, Silver River and two novels My Last Duchess Uk/The American Heiress US and The Fortune Hunter, which were both New York Times bestsellers. In 2014 Daisy decided to concentrate on writing full time and was commissioned to write her first screenplay, Victoria, an 8 part series about the early life of Queen Victoria for ITV and WGBH Masterpiece Theatre.She is now working on Season 2.
Daisy lives in London with her three dogs, two daughters and one husband.
Over The Rainbow Blog 