Thursday 20 July 2017

Dive In // Quarterly Book Review

Quarterly Book Review, Faded Windmills, new post, latest post, blog, book recommendations, April, May, June, top books, literature, reading, lifestyle, lbloggers, fashion, fbloggers, bbloggers, beauty, slow living, creative living, instastyle, Spring Summer read, currently reading, to be read.


I have only five books to share with you today as I've hit a major brick wall with my reading lately. I guess having a non-stop three weeks travelling around Canada could have contributed to not setting time aside for my beloved books but I've also had an unlucky streak of starting a story and then really not feeling it enough to continue past the opening chapter.


Thankfully though, the novels I did get to during the months of April, May and June, were all pretty great reads and quite a varied bunch! Let's dive straight into the reviews shall we?


Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham    5* {209 pages}

This is one for the fans. The charmingly witty Lauren Graham shares a fast paced collection of personal essays as she looks back over her life and career and even shares a Gilmore Girl confession or two.

I loved how this book flowed in an eloquent yet chatty manner, it was bizarrely relatable and it's fresh pace made the pages easily digestible whilst cramming them full of fascinating mementos. Definitely a must read if you're a Lorelai fan and would be the cherry on top upon completing the series.


Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll    3.5* {352 pages}

With the upcoming wedding to her blue blood fiancé, glamorous Ani struggles to address an incident from her past and attempts to put the stories and gossip to rest during the filming of a documentary- will she bury her secrets and the truth along with it or risk losing it all for a moment of justice?

Page turning, plot twisting, thrill ride? Not quite, but it certainly entertained as a piece of flash back literature that definitely wasn't lacking in content. The book was written well with enough suspense and intrigue but I found it way too long and a little too busy. I can see how it landed high in the charts as it ticks the boxes for an interesting thriller but I think it would have benefited from a little editing down.


Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler    4* {368 pages}

Set in a famous down town New York restaurant, this book follows a year in the life of the enigmatic yet oblivious Jess as she stumbles into adulthood and all that follows, cue disillusionment, disappointment and eye opening experiences.

Call it good timing or outstanding fiction but this book just did it for me. It's poetic, highly charged, sensory meeting of words carried the story, created this flaky yet charming character, led me through a somewhat stationary plot yet from beginning to end the language was enhancing and delicious. I think I could read Stephanie Danler's take on just about anything, when told in this captivating hand. One to give a go, for sure.


The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead    3.5* {306 pages}

The Underground Railroad is a heart-wrenching tale of the brutal treatment of black people in pre-Civil War America, the secret route dug out beneath the ground promising hopes of escape and the harrowing story of one slave woman, her strengths and will for life despite her disadvantages.

I'm not sure where to start with this book other than by saying what a beautifully handled narrative, and an important piece of history that, despite the pain and devastation caused by this period in time, must never be forgotten or tip toed over and must be taught and understood, and most importantly never repeated. For this I applaud the book. I hold it in high reverence and I genuinely did enjoy reading this piece of fiction. However, I chose the wrong time to start it (note to self, if it don't fit in with mood/ schedule don't force it to) and found myself getting lost, confusing characters and time lines and generally taking way too long to get through. I do feel that lies more on bad timing that the book itself, so perhaps one to re read in the future? I insist you pick up this novel, but give it the time it needs.


Uprooted by Naomi Novik    4.5* {435 pages}

Finally we reach my favourite book of the pile, Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Every ten years, in their sleepy, lush green village, the Dragon must choose his next girl of age to take away from her family and community and back to the hidden depths of his enchanted tower. The next choosing is fast approaching and despite knowing her beautiful, confident best friend will be brave enough to accept her fate, Agnieszka is still scared. But when the Dragon arrives it becomes apparent she was scared for the wrong reason.

A true fairytale through and through! This novel is everything you could want in a story- wizards and dark, destructive forests, shining knights in full coats of armour and creepy, soul destroying demons, magical spells, potions and trickery and loyal friendships worth risking life and limb to protect! I daren't say much more other than treat yourself to a copy of this beauty!


Quarterly Book Review, Faded Windmills, new post, latest post, blog, book recommendations, April, May, June, top books, literature, reading, lifestyle, lbloggers, fashion, fbloggers, bbloggers, beauty, slow living, creative living, instastyle, Spring Summer read, currently reading, to be read.


There you have it, a handful of varying genres that I highly recommend giving a whirl, especially over the glorious summer. Each of these books would fit swimmingly with a cocktail in hand and obligatory sunny weather!


Right now I'm currently getting my read on with another Dutch boekje (pat on the back for me), along side a mystical new release and have a growing stack of exciting tomes on my bedside table, to enjoy over the upcoming few months, ready to devour and share with you next time.

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