Book Review: Whispers Through A Megaphone

I read a few books published by the lovely people at Pushkin Press before, you can check out my reviews of The Pendragon Legend and Soft In The Head. I have loved all of their books, they publish quite quirky and unusual books that I don't seem to find anywhere else. I received *Whispers Through A Megaphone by Rachel Elliot (£7.99, paperback) and I didn't know what to fully expect apart from that it would be unlike anything else I have read this year.

The book follows Miriam, her past, present and how she wants to change for the future. It also follows her opposite in many ways, Ralph, who is living an ordinary but ultimately unfulfilled life with a wife and two teenage boys; homosexuality is relatively prominent throughout the book which I'm a fan of as I don't tend to read books with gay characters and I want to expand the diversity of the books I read. Ralph and Miriam meet under quite unusual circumstances, which is the case for the rest of the book, and I love the relationship they have - it's platonic which is a change from the rest of the books I've been reading recently. It was interesting to find out about Miriam's life, how she is now in which she hasn't left her home for three years and her relationships with friends and her mentally ill mother who has passed away. I love the writing style, it's quite unusual in a simplistic and 'train of thoughts' kind of way but it is very easy to read even though it deals with a couple of heavy issues such as mental illnesses, secrets, suicide and dysfunctional families of a sort.

I loved Miriam, Ralph, Eric and his family as well as Boo, they are all such interesting, unique, quirky and sweet characters that I could easily see in an independent, slow and kooky British film but then there is Sadie who to put it bluntly is a bit of a bitch - I really didn't like her character and I also didn't like Miriam's mum because of how Miriam had to grow up but she did have mental health issues so I have to forgive her. The only main point about this book that I hated were the six pages that made up chapter 45, I wish chapter 45 was completely different, as it was like reading a completely different book, but sadly it's in there. 

Overall, I cannot recommend it enough! It's an unusual, sweet, endearing and thought provoking read that would be perfect if you like books regarding family relationships, family secrets, kooky and sweet characters or past regrets and an identity crisis. It was longlisted for the Baileys women's prize for fiction this year too, so it's definitely worth picking up! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read this book or anything published by Pushkin Press? What are you currently reading?

Read More

April, May + June Book Haul

Now, I don't know how this happened but over the past three months I've managed to accumulate a lot of books...I may have a problem. I have been sent a few books and I have bought a lot of books, thankfully the majority were discounted in some way from The Works, Wordery, Book Depository and Amazon, all of which have become such a weakness for me this year!

I have over 45 books in this haul *hangs head in shame* and 10/11 of them were sent to me for review from the lovely publishers including: Nobrow, Titan Books, Pushkin Press and Transworld Books. Since I photographed the books and filmed the clips below, I have somehow acquired four more books including: Hero Born, With Malice, The Crowns Game and Hero Grown - review coming over the next two months.

The Works 

Now, I really wish we had assess to Book Outlet here in the UK but I guess our equivalent is The Works although it has a lot more than just books. I've made quite a few orders on The Works this year as the books are so cheap and I usually find a discount code too. The Works is best for non-fiction in my opinion and I've found a range of interesting and inexpensive non-fiction books from there recently, including: Brevertons Nautical Curiosities, The Time Travel Handbook (£4) and The Science of Everyday Life.

Amazon 

Amazon has also become a weakness for me especially earlier in the year when I had a Amazon Primer trial *don't get it, you will feel the need to buy constantly!*. I've bought so many used books from Amazon - most of the books in this haul are from Amazon including: Warm Bodies, Uprooted, The Night Circus, The Mime Order (which was a bargain at less than £3 for a like new hardback copy) and a range of gorgeous editions of Susan Hill books published by Profile Books. You can get so many cheap used hardcover covers on Amazon *I have no willpower when it comes to cheap hardcover books*.

Tesco 

I was kindly sent a £50 Tesco voucher recently and yes, I spend the majority of it on books! I finished my Harry Potter book collection with the voucher - I adore the Bloomsbury editions. I also bought To Kill A Mocking Bird, Revival by Stephen King, The Miniaturist, The Loney, Rouges by George R R Martin and others and A Shepherd's Life as well as one or two other books that I've forgotten to photograph.

Book Depository & Wordery

Both Book Depository and Wordery have great discounted books and very new releases and I cannot remember which books came from which site but I bought some new releases such as True Born and Riverkeep as well as the much raved about A Court of Thrones and Roses, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, The Master & Margarita, Night Walks by Charles Dickens and other books.

Now onto the video, sorry for the shakiness and lighting *clearly the English weather hasn't got the memo that it's now summer*!

Have you read any of these books? What have you been reading recently? Where do you buy books from? 

Read More

Book Review: The Pendragon Legend

I've been reading so much this year, especially compared to last year and I've already surpassed my 30 book goal for 2016 so I've up my goal to 50 books which I think is easily achievable. I've read horror, graphic novels, fantasy and YA this year although I want to expand my reading range and classics are high on my list to read.

I was very kindly sent *The Pendragon Legend by Antal Szerb (£12.99, paperback) which is published by Pushkin Press. Firstly, let's take a moment to appreciate the bloody gorgeous cover; it has a unique shape, being quite petite and boxy which makes it really nice to read. The Pendragon Legend was first published in the 1930s, so I would categorise it as a classic.

The book follows a Hungarian intellectual on an adventure that takes him to the Welsh mountains and ancient castles. The book has so many themes that I adore such as myths, legends and folk tales, secret societies, gothic settings of abandoned castles, mysterious lakes and rural villages, the occult and black magic and mystery as well as ghostly beings, prophets, welsh mythical figures and a range of intriguing characters.

The only point I am always cautious about with classics is the writing style as usually it can be so different to what I'm used to, as it's normally formal, complex and more convoluted than non-classics; however the writing style on the whole was easy to read and follow although in some areas it was a little confusing as there are a fair few characters.

The storyline is interesting and entertaining throughout, the mystery is enticing and I was left wondering how the storylines would conclude throughout the book. The characters were so vivid and believable, if a little annoying at times. This next point might be a little spoiler so skip to the next paragraph - my one problem with the characters was the main character, Janos Batley, as some of his beliefs and remarks really got under my skin such as his insinuated belief that intelligent woman are masculine and aren't typically beautiful or feminine; this is most prominent with the character Lene who he seems to admire but as he would admire an intelligent man and she was portrayed as generically masculine. Although this may have just been the view at the time.

There are so many elements that I loved such as a mystery, occult and alchemy elements which I enjoyed so much! Parts of the book reminded me of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill in terms of ghostly apparitions and spooky atmosphere. I also think it had elements of frankenstein, in terms of raising the dead and scientific experimentation. Additionally, I thought that Mrs Roscoe was quite similar the Countess Narona in The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough! If you think you don't like classics then just give them a go and you might be surprised. I adored the themes in this book particularly all of the mystery, occult, mythic and atmospheric/gothic elements. I definitely want to check out more books from Antal Szerb even though there were a few points about The Pendragon Legend that I wasn't a fan of. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

What have you been reading recently? Have you read The Pendragon Legend? Any recommendations similar to this book? 

Read More

June Book Review Roundup

I haven't had a fantastic reading month in June as I have been so focused on my driving test last week which I didn't pass but it was only because of a teeny tiny inconsequential mistake that I'm so annoyed by but anyway, I only managed to finish five books in June *cries*. Here are my thoughts: 

*Soft In The Head by Marie-Sabine Rogers 

I already have a full review of this book on my blog so I won't go into too much detail here but I just want to say that I loved this book even though it isn't from a genre that are usually read from; I was very kindly sent it from the lovely people at Pushkin Press which is quickly becoming one of my favourite publishers. I love the cover and the characters especially Margueritte. The themes of friendship and the power of books within this novel is so endearing and sweet! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

*This Savage Song by V.E Schwab 

Again I also have a full review of this book on my blog which you can check out if you want a more in-depth review; I was sent it to review by Titan Books so thank you! I'm not a massive fan of the cover but the story is fantastic! The writing style is so incredibly easy to read, it is fast paced and I loved the character of August and even the monsters – it's such a unique book but it feels oddly familiar and I can't recommend it enough! I now need to buy more of her books, particularly A Darker Shade Of Magic which sounds amazing. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

Before I bought this book I had heard nothing but amazing things about it but I don't usually tend to go with the hype especially the book isn't in a genre that are usually read from but I was so wrong with this one! I adore the cover, the characters, the writing style and the story overall. It is such a unique story, it's magical, enchanting (literally!) and it wraps you around and around until you never want to leave - like the circus itself! I love the two main characters and well all of the characters of the circus! I need to see if she has any of the books as I need them all – her writing style is amazing although the only thing I didn't like about the book was the chapters jumped back and forwards in time so it was a little bit confusing but I still loved it. I read it in a couple of days and I can't recommend it enough! I love the magical and mysterious circus elements so if you know of any similar books then let me know in the comments. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Uprooted by Naomi Novak 

Again another very hyped up book especially in the booktube community and again I didn't want to believe the hype but it's a fantastic book! I have the hardcover version which is just gorgeous! The writing style is very easy to follow and it isn't a very complicated story (although the ending to me was a little bit confusing and anticlimactic). I loved the main character and the Dragon even though he is quite annoying at times and I liked their relationship although I wish certain to people got together in the end. The magic in this world wasn't super unique but it was still interesting and entertaining to read. I especially like the world and the effects of the wood on the villagers – it was darker than I thought it would be and I loved it! Highly recommend, although it did seem a little predictable and familiar at times. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

*A Graphic Cosmogony 

Another book I already have a full review on my blog so check it out if you want to know more. I really started to get into graphic novels and illustrated books this year and Nobrow have some gorgeous books to choose from! The cover is gorgeous, all of the other illustrations are gorgeous and I loved the majority of the stories especially Luna, Deity School and Pilgrims. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

*The Pendragon Legend by Antal Szerb 

This book is definitely one of my favourites of the month as well as The Night Circus and This Savage Song. Firstly, I adore the cover, it's beautifully published and the story has so many elements that I love such as myth, mystery, the occult, folktales, ghostly beings, Welsh legends and so much more. I adore the storyline, the characters were so interesting and the writing is surprisingly easy to read on the whole. The only thing I didn't like were the remarks and insinuations tat intelligent woman are masculine which really gets under my skin. I have a full review already on my blog. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

I'm currently reading an advanced readers copy of The Lament of the Fallen by Gavin Chait which I also really like so far as well as With Malice by Eileen Cook from Hot Key Books. 

Have you read any of these books? What are you currently reading?

Read More