I'm BACK.

It has been too long since my last post. I was kind of busy with a lot of things-and I still am-but I decided I should try to make some time to write a new blog post. So here we go.

First of all, let's start with talking about my Bookstagram. Before I started it, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, since it takes a lot of time and energy, but it's so much fun! Since I take all my pictures outside, I discover new things daily, and I love it. You have no idea how many different animals I've encountered in the woods!

Talking about animals, right now we have a squirrel (squirrel.. isn't that the one of the loveliest words you can possibly imagine?) in our backyard and I named him Dean (after Dean Winchester, SPN fans will get it). He (or she?) is the cutest, but my cats think Dean is a either a playmate or prey, and he does not like it.

Anyway, if you haven't checked out my Bookstagram already, I urge you to do it ASAP ;)

So... I should probably fill you in on my writing progress. I have been writing quite a lot, though most of it has been rewriting. Right now I am somewhere around 32k words, so I am at least getting somewhere. I've also been writing some poems as if they were written by some of the book's characters and that was very helpful (and fun to write!). I might be doing some more of those in the future. Maybe I'll even let you read them ;)

Then, let's move on to the book reviews! Since it's been a while, I have a lot of reviews to share. Since my last post I've read ... *checks Goodreads* ... 19 books! I am not going to post full reviews of ALL of them, because that would take a lot of space and time and it's probably a bit boring for you to read. If you do think it's very exhilarating, check out my Goodreads page (or my Bookstagram) ;)

Book reviews

CLASSICS

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (okay okay, 5 stars)

Family need not be defined merely as those with whom we share blood, but as those for whom we would give our blood.

"When Nicholas Nickleby is left penniless after his father's death, he appeals to his wealthy uncle to help him find work and to protect his mother and sister. But Ralph Nickleby proves both hard-hearted and unscrupulous, and Nicholas finds himself forced to make his own way in the world. His adventures gave Dickens the opportunity to portray an extraordinary gallery of rogues and eccentrics: Wackford Squeers, the tyrannical headmaster of Dotheboys Hall, a school for unwanted boys; the slow-witted orphan Smike, rescued by Nicholas; and the gloriously theatrical Mr and Mrs Crummles and their daughter, the 'infant phenonenon'. Like many of Dickens's novels, Nicholas Nickleby is characterised by his outrage at cruelty and social injustice, but it is also a flamboyantly exuberant work, revealing his comic genius at its most unerring."

I don't think there is a book that took me longer to read than this jewel. When I was a kid I watched the movie and I loved it, so when I got myself a copy in 2017 (yes, it took me 3 years) I was very excited to dig into the story. And it was a masterpiece. But it was also so incredibly long. And there was SO MUCH information. There were chapters about people watching a show Nicholas was going to perform in (but he wasn't yet) and they were discussing it and I was wondering why this was relevant. And it wasn't. But even with useless chapters like that, it was impossible not to finish it. I love Nicholas. I want to be like Nicholas. Give me a Nicholas for Christmas.

Also, I love Dickens.

Also, this is probably the worst review ever.

GO READ IT. NOW.

SCIFI / FANTASY / HORROR

War of the Sons (Supernatural #6) by Rebecca Dessertine

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

"Twenty-seven years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. In the years after, their father, John, taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America... and he taught them how to kill it.

On the hunt for Lucifer, the boys find themselves in a small town in South Dakota where they meet Don - an angel with a proposition... Don sends them a very long way from home, on a mission to uncover the secret Satan never wanted them to find out."

What I loved most about this book was the plot. It was so much fun to read! It had this whole Back to the Future vibe I love and even though it doesn't exactly fit the SPN storyline it was really great. But as with most of the books, Dean just wasn't Dean. This Dean was obnoxious and at times flat out mean, and the whole love story thing was...kind of weird?

I truly enjoyed reading this book and if it wasn't for this version of Dean, I would've rated it five stars.

Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

HISTORICAL FICTION

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

"In post-World War II London, determined to save their marriage and the city they love, two people divided by World War II's secrets rebuild their lives, their love, and their world.

London, Fall 1945. Architectural historian Diana Somerville's experience as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and her knowledge of London's churches intersect in MI6's pursuit of a Russian agent named Eternity. Diana wants nothing more than to begin again with her husband Brent after their separation during the war, but her signing of the Official Secrets Act keeps him at a distance.

Brent Somerville, professor of theology at King's College, hopes aiding his wife with her church consultations will help him better understand why she disappeared when he needed her most. But he must find a way to reconcile his traumatic experiences as a stretcher bearer on the European front with her obvious lies about her wartime activities and whereabouts."

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Rachel McMillan for my copy (audiobook) of The London Restoration. I also want to praise Hannah Curtis for her narration of the novel!

I enjoyed The London Restoration, but mostly because of the well-researched history and architecture. Being interested in both, I did like this book, but I’m not sure if people who don’t share this interest will. The story itself was a bit slow (the plot was fine, but because it unfolded so slowly, it became a bit boring), and though I liked the characters from the start, they lacked development. Still, 3,5 stars!

Wartime with the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

CONTEMPORARY/ROMANCE/HUMOR

Someone's Story by B.A. Bellec

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"In his debut endearing coming-of-age book, B.A. Bellec writes about a group of weirdos that find and save each other from the dark depths of their minds. Someone’s Story is literally Someone’s story, as in a first-person narrative of a teenager that calls himself Someone. As he struggles to find a new footing in a new space, we encounter the many ups and downs of modern teenage life, the difficulties that adjusting to adult feelings bring, and a few tear-jerking surprises along the way."

This was such a wonderful surprise! I think this book is best described as unique. Not only because of the writing style that's very different from most of the books I've read (different in a good way), but also because everything is so...deep? Or philosophical perhaps?

I loved how certain experiences were described (like going out for a run, listening to music or taking a bath), making me feel like I was experiencing it as well.

Also, the sudden plot twist near the end was very unexpected and I love that, especially because I'm usually very good at figuring these things out early on in a book. Well, not this time!

I want to thank B.A. Bellec for the free copy. Someone's Story was an absolute pleasure to read.

19 keer Katherine (An Abundance of Katherines) by John Green

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

De roadtrip van je leven by Lizzie van den Ham ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

LGBTQ+

Date Me, Byrson Keller by Kevin van Whye

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new--the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he's never really dated before.

Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.

Kai Sheridan didn't expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there's more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he's awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this "relationship" will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight... right?"

My goodness, how I loved this book. Everything about it was just so perfect. It was simply impossible for me to stop reading. And Bryson and Kai were absolutely ADORABLE together. I 100% LOVED IT.

Conventionally Yours (True Colors #1) by Annabeth Albert

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A Chequered Romance by Lawson Brook

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

NON-FICTION / POETRY

Roses Are Read by Rosellyn Kidd

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Roses Are Read was written over the span of two years and derives much of its inspiration from nature. Roses Are Read combines nature’s mysteries with life lessons while proving to result in “aha” moments when read. Rosellyn wrote Roses Are Read out of struggle. While she did not overcome something so extraordinary, Roses Are Read is a compilation of poetry entries that seeks to understand abuse and friendship and most importantly, a woman who is finding a voice.Roses Are Read will touch briefly on the rights of humans and will always shed light into themes that can sometimes be taboo or “untouchables.” Roses Are Read will leave you contemplating your place in this world, in this time. The hope is that these poems will inspire you to find your very specific voice and that you will not stay quiet. May this book allow you to see that both darkness and light work in tandem. This book will embody both. Without darkness, we cannot look forward to the light. Without light, we cannot drive out the dark."

I loved this so much. There was nature, there was hope and there was sadness. And it taught there are lessons to be found in all of our madness (sorry, I just had to).

The poems are written beautifully, but are also easy to read. Of course I had to read (some of) them a few times over to really grasp the meaning, but it really wasn't too difficult. I definitely recommend it!

Leven met hooggevoeligheid: Tips voor de empathische persoonlijkheid by Judith Orloff

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Television, Religion, and Supernatural: Hunting Monsters, Finding Gods by Erika Engstrom

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

And with that, we come to the end of my post. I hope you've enjoyed it & if there's anything else you'd like to know (about the books or my book or whatever), feel free to ask!

Have a nice week :)

Love, Annabel