Being Bookish

We're almost halfway through the year so I figured it was time for a bit of a check-in. I have read a pretty decent number of books and while some have been incredible, others have not been quite so impressive.

I am also taking a look at the upcoming releases that are on my 'most anticipated' list, between now and the end of September, and there are some really great books on that list (let me tell you).

Clytemnestra

Silver in the Bone

Ruthless Vows | Divine Rivals

Argylle

DONATE TO LIVESTREAM FOR THE CURE

Have you ever just read a truly hyped up book and wondered what you were missing?

Maybe it was Fourth Wing or Twilight, or Harry Potter?

The Ministry of Time was so hyped before it was released that the BBC in the UK purchased the rights to make it into a TV series...

As with every episode, I am not going to spoil the ending, but I am going to talk about my feelings as I read and finished this time-travelling debut by British-Cambodian author, Kaliane Bradley.

Did I like it? Did I rate it? Find out.

Don't forget, if you want to find out more about Livestream for the Cure, or donate to the event, check out the site now:

https://donate.tiltify.com/d788c5ca-1b84-42f1-a41a-ab715c2ce57e/details

The event starts on Wednesday 29th of May and I will be on livestream myself from 4pm EST/9pm BST on Thursday 30th May here: https://www.twitch.tv/livestreamforthecure

This week I am heading all over the country with Lorraine from Once Upon a Nightmare as we follow Hercule Poirot on one of his toughest early investigations, The ABC Murders.

Not only does he have to contend with a serial killer who seemingly has no discernable MO, but he is up against the clock as this murderer is putting a timer on it all.

Will he solve the case? Will he beat the killer at his own game? We will reveal some, but not all of this, this week in the usual Being Bookish spoiler-free fashion.

As you may know, there are few genres I enjoy more than cosy mysteries, so when this one kept on popping up on my Insta feed I knew that I had to give it a whirl.

Based in 1795, this novel follows one of my author idols, Jane Austen as she navigates social niceties, attends balls, spends time with her friends and...solves the murder of a milliner from whom she once purchased a hat in Basingstoke.

As always, I won't be spoiling the ending, revealing the murder or unveiling their motive...but I will be letting you know whether I enjoyed it or not!

Not all monsters are what they seem...This week I am taking a look at probably one of the most famous 'monsters' in Greek Mythology, Medusa, with Natalie Haynes' mythological retelling of the story, Stone Blind. So, does this book live up to the hype I have heard from fans over the last couple of years? Is the book as amazing as the stunning cover would have it appear? Join me to find out what I thought, during my spoiler-free review. As ever, I will be completely honest as I take the story apart, and despite pretty much everyone knowing how the tale of Medusa ends, I am not going to reveal the unexpected twists and turns that Haynes uses in the book.

Most of you will easily remember the 1996 film starring the iconic trio that is Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton. But did you know that before it was a movie it was a book written by socialite and author Olivia Goldsmith?

Released in 1992, the book is a study in society, in revenge and this book is probably what Shakespeare meant when he said 'Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned'. For these women are 100% vindictive and out for blood. Unlike the film, this is not all sweetness and light with cute little moments such as the teasing about Elise's overdone lip implants, or the scene with the legendary Maggie Smith where she is mentoring the naive and money hungry Sarah Jessica Parker. So...what did I think when I read this for the first time? Listen on to find out!

Episode links

Livestream for the Cure

F.T. Lukens interview (YouTube)

Sit back, relax and enjoy this incredible chat with author F.T. Lukens as we talk about their new YA Fantasy novel, Otherworldly (due for release on the 2nd of April 2024). Otherworldly is the story of non-believer Ellery who moved from their family farm to the city when the winter didn't end five years previously, destroying the family's livelihood. When they meet Knox, a familiar who has been living in the mortal realm for five years, they find themselves involved in things they don't believe and don't want to. The story has some incredibly strong themes, such as the environment, LGBTQ+ identity and underlying mythology.

Of course, there is also talk about post-it notes, storyboards and stationery!

Episode links

F.T. Lukens on Instagram

F.T. Lukens' website

Book launch at Malaprop's Bookstore

Special Editions from Dazzling Bookshop

A compelling combination of Six of Crows and Peaky Blinders is the way that book promoters have been selling the third novel by American author Hafsah Faizal. As someone who has never seen Peaky Blinders, but loved Six of Crows (see my review of that from 2021), does this claim actually ring true?

Enter White Roaring, a town that is full of intrigue and insurrection. A town under the tyrannical rule of the mysterious Ram and meet Arthie and Jin Casimir, proprietors of Spindrift, a charming tea room with a secret. All is not as it seems on the surface, and that becomes much clearer when you realise that Arthie is a schemer, going after what she wants whatever the cost...and right now what she wants is in the Athereum; a ledger that can help her and others to take down the powers that rule so unfairly...but will they succeed?

Before I read this book I had heard so much about it, the reviews are mixed, so which side of the track will mine fall? And more importantly...I won't spoil it to reveal my thoughts!

Featured Episodes

Six of Crows

This one book is not like the others...and that is certainly true where The Secret Adversary is concerned. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Agatha Christie created and wrote about a lot of different characters, though her most well-known and most beloved are an elderly woman who loves to knit and observe and a rotund Belgian who knows and sees everything!

In 1922, Christie wrote about Tommy Beresford and his friend Tuppence Cowley for the first time. Though they would only appear in a few books, their tales are very different from others that she wrote...in fact, I would go so far as to say that they are more spy novels than mysteries! But that's just me...So, join me this week on my first adventure with the Young Adventurers Ltd and see what kind of trouble they get into, and whether I like it or not!

Featured episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

Featured links

Spybrary's recommended spy novels

Raye on YouTube