Tag: book lover

the most unusual of narrators

I don’t think I’ve read a book that is from the point of view of anything interesting, or weird, or wacky – until now. I finally got round to

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i must be really bad

a person holding a hermit crab
Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

Hiding under a little rock

A hermit shell and tiny claws

To keep well meaning passers by

At just the safest distance they

Can walk on by and leave me with

My hefty books and Netflix shows.

I just finished reading Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day. It is a brilliant book because the writer is so talented; however, I only gave it a three star rating because I just could not click with what she was saying. Either she is trying to twist her truth into something that it’s not, or I am literally one step away from being the crazy cat lady who talks to herself in the crisps aisle at LIDL.

She was constantly going on about her introversion and her fear of the phone, but then she would talk about long conversations she had over Face Time and the number of Whatsapp messages she would receive and send in a day.

Now I don’t think I’ve picked up my phone to anyone other than my dad in that last five years – I really am terrified of the thing. And I can’t bear Whatsapp because I end up feeling hounded if I get more than three messages in a day.

I hardly go out if I’m not going to work. And even tonight, we have work drinks for the people who are leaving, and I’m sitting here desperately trying to come up with excuses to get out of it.

It is leaving me thinking that if Elizabeth Day thinks she is a loser that hides under a rock, desperately avoiding people, then I must be a loser of the tallest order.

Good book, though. I recommend if you have a fascination with friendships and how and why some survive anything and others just fizzle.

Much Love

Rachel xx

it’s rachel’s round up time!

It’s that time of the year again, when everyone is writing about their favourites of the year. As part time book blogger, I only feel it’s right that I round up my favourite books of the year.

I have chosen five of my favourite books that I have read this year (not all of them were published this year). There have been numerous amazing books that I have read since January, so I could go on and on for ages. But we don’t have all day so, here goes…

5. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

This is such a sad story and it shows just how traumatic it can be to be a child star. We watch these kids on Disney and Nickelodeon and I always think that they must have fantastic lives. They get out of school, and get to mess about on TV sets instead. But this book tells us there is a darker side and it’s well worth a read…. and that title!

4. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

A proper family drama that has the seal of approval from the queen that is Reese Witherspoon. This one touched all sorts of nerves as it dealt with infidelity and I always get super angry over those story lines. Brilliantly written and so real that it feels you a part of that family. I would recommend for people who love Celeste Ng.

3. How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

I loved this because I can’t get enough of the psychopaths. I’m an INFP so I feel everything, and I think this means that I’m always really intrigued by people who don’t seem to have that empathy. This main character is on a mission to kill everyone and I thought she was brilliant.

2. Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb

I got this one in the £1 sale on audible and I am so glad I spotted it. This book is from the point of view of a therapist and I found that really interesting. When I was having therapy, I always wondered what mine was thinking and this answered some of those questions. It was very funny and helpful too.

1. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

And numero uno had to be the Goddess herself – TJR. She can do no wrong in my humble opinion and this book was another shining example of her genius. I do love a book about an athlete because I have always been crazy about sport. This one is about a tennis star who is staging a comeback, and OMG, it made me want to dig out my tennis rackets and get out on the court – and no, I can’t play tennis, but I feel like I’m Serena Williams when I’m out there.

I had a goal of 52 books this year, and I comfortably hit that. There were so many highlights along the way and I can’t wait to see what great stories are coming out next year. I’d love to hear what other people have read and if you are aware of anything good coming out in the early part of next year.

Much Love

Rachel xx

a marked lack of books under my tree

lighted christmas tree
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Piles of presents draped in sparkles

Bows and ribbons wrapped around

Those lovely soaps and bubble baths.

But then there’s nothing underneath that tree

That slightly looks like hardback books

Filled with stories for this week of boredom

Where I dream of other worlds

With beaches, holidays and handsome men…

I don’t know if there are any other bookish people out there who have the same problem as me – because it is a big problem. I never get any books for Christmas from any of my loved ones.

I think that my family are worried they will buy something that I have either read, or feel very strongly against. But I know other readers suffer this terrible issue because their families think they already have enough books!

I mean, can you imagine?

Anyway, I do believe that Waterstones have a massive sale on at the moment so I can rectify this problem within the next 24 hours.

Merry Christmas everyone, and hope that you got everything you wanted underneath your tree yesterday. And if you didn’t, I hope that you got to spend the day with everyone you loved.

Much Love

Rachel xx