A lot of the information in this book I'm already familiar with, but it honestly didn't hurt to hear it again. It also served as fantastic confirmatioA lot of the information in this book I'm already familiar with, but it honestly didn't hurt to hear it again. It also served as fantastic confirmation that I'm finally on the right path.
Kate James is a psychologist and mindfulness coach and she brings her knowledge and personal experiences to this book to help you re-shape your thoughts in order to re-shape your life. There's a spiritual side to it - with its strong focus on meditation and mindfulness - but it also offers practical methods suggested by other respected experts. The general idea: if you can recognise negative thoughts and where they come from, you can learn to manipulate them so that they have a positive influence on all aspects of your life.
I really enjoyed the multi-faceted approach. This book provides multiple theories and exercises, so that even if some don't resonate there will still be something that does. Personally, I found Internal Family Systems (IFS) to be a little too wacky for me, but I really loved the information on 'fixed mindset' vs 'growth mindset'. There were a lot of things that resonated, and I enjoyed learning about them; and about myself through thinking about them.
I also particularly enjoyed doing the 'Strengths' test HERE and comparing results with my family and friends. If you decide to take it, please feel free to share your results and/or thoughts!
The 'workbook' format bothered me a little as I'm someone who likes to read uninterrupted, but I can definitely see the benefit to it. It does provide lines in the book so that you can jot down your answers and thoughts but it also recommends writing things down in a journal and I personally think that would be more beneficial. This is a book you should take your time with if you want to get the most out of it. Particularly Part One, which covers Connecting With Your True Self. You picked it up for a reason, right? So take your time and maximise the benefits.
I loved the practical element of it, and how there are plenty of questions you can challenge yourself with. A lot of it comes back to meditation, as this helps still the mind and allows you to connect deeper with your thoughts, but I think even if you're not a fan of meditation you can still get a lot out of just taking the time to think about your answers to the questions proposed. The author has done all the leg work in gathering information and strategies from notable experts - all we have to do is apply what works best.
This would be a great starting point for someone wanting to gain a better understanding of how our thoughts shape our lives. It's fairly easy to digest and the exercises are quite practical. At the same time, for those of us to whom this information is familiar, I believe it's still worthwhile having it reiterated. I believe working through the exercises properly will help weed out any lingering difficulties and bring more to the surface that we can work on. I may be familiar with the concept of questioning my thoughts but I'm certainly no expert at it, so it was helpful to go through the processes here and I'll likely go back to it repeatedly.
My advice? Start the year right by treating yourself to a beautiful, new, blank journal, get a copy of this book, and enjoy the process of getting to know yourself and your dreams a little better.
Releasing 27th Jan 2021. With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC...more
It wasn't bad, it was just really not my kind of story.
This story follows Coco as she deals with life I think this might be my last by Danielle Steel.
It wasn't bad, it was just really not my kind of story.
This story follows Coco as she deals with life following the sudden death of her parents. She's been left their massive inheritance at only 22 so she's super naïve, but thankfully she has her best friend Sam supporting her along the way.
Now, for a book that's less than 300 pages, this is a long story. It covers a good ten years or more, and basically Coco spends that entire time making terrible decisions. It's very frustrating.
I was really hoping for some rich kid drama but this is all about how naïve Coco gets taken in by guys we can spot as bad a mile away. There's not really a lot of scandal, because you can see it all coming, and the money doesn't really add a lot of fun to the story. Coco is dull and safe and gets taken in by losers in a cycle that's already old by the second guy. Meanwhile her and Sam keep telling the other that they're making a mistake so you kinda just spend the whole book waiting for them to hook up.
The story is described rather than allowing us to ever really sit in how it makes us feel, so the reader is essentially a bystander watching Coco's life pass in one disastrous decision after another. It's hard to really feel anything other than frustration. All of the characters are deplorable so reading this story was kind of like watching a car crash where all the drivers are speeding and doing stupid car tricks thinking they'll be fine. It seems like every cliché of a bad relationship is here and there are some seriously cheesy moments spelled out just in case we don't pick up on what's happening. Here's an example:
He was a bad guy, and always had been, just great in bed. [...] He lived in the fast lane, and had run over her like a bus. She was surprised to find that her heart wasn't broken but her pride was badly bruised.
Basically, this book treats you a bit like an idiot.
While it wasn't my cup of tea at all I enjoyed that overall idea that life is unpredictable, and sometimes we do make stupid mistakes. I can see how this will appeal to people less critical than I - those people will appreciate watching Coco's growth from a naiive 22-yr old and the gradual unfolding of her life.
There's a simplicity to this story that will appeal to romance lovers looking for a book that will be a quick and easy read. If you're after something a little deeper, this may miss the mark, however it does have some interesting reflections on life to still get the mind wandering.
There's a story here - a fascinating survivor's tale - but most of all there is hope, and love, and above all,OH MY GOD.
I am SO GLAD I read this book.
There's a story here - a fascinating survivor's tale - but most of all there is hope, and love, and above all, kindness.
This is the story of a man who suffered through great tragedy and hardship, who spent years fighting one day at a time just to LIVE, and who came through it all with an unbreakable spirit.
It's absolutely inspiring.
I hate war stories, because it pains me so deeply to read about people suffering, but there is so much inextinguishable light in Eddie's story that I just couldn't stop reading. No matter all of the horrible things he endured, he was able to appreciate the precious moments and use those to find the will to go on.
What an incredible man.
This story is filled with heart and light and HOPE and the message that kindness is one of the most valuable things we all have to give, and it costs us nothing but rather doubles our stores when we give it.
The story is a quick read, though incredibly emotional. Things are told quite simply, but that doesn't affect the feeling of the story - you will easily become immersed in Eddie's story and I don't think anyone could possibly read this and not be moved by it.
I hope many people read Eddie's story and take away that message of the value of kindness and the importance of hope. Especially in these troubling times when so many people are driven by fear, hatred and greed.
What a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing your hope.
With many thanks to Macmillan for sending me a copy....more
Reasons You Will Love This Book - Enemies to Lovers cute romance - Fun beaOkay, I guess it was pretty cute.
Prudence is, like, super annoying though.
Reasons You Will Love This Book - Enemies to Lovers cute romance - Fun beach location - Sea life vibes - Karmic justice - Fun characters - Music rep - Realistic character appearances (as opposed to everyone being 'the most attractive person ever') - Quirky moments - That one scene in the ... where they're both ... *happy sigh*
Reasons This Book May Lose Stars - Prudence is super judgy - Prudence is self-absorbed - Prudence is kind of oblivious - Prudence keeps everything a secret instead of just friggin' telling people the truth - Look, mostly Prudence. She takes a LOT of warming up to
It really did take a bit for me to get into this, but once Prudence started softening up I enjoyed it much more. Quint is fun from the start, and I really love the relationship between Prudence and Jude, even though he treats her way better than she deserves sometimes. Ari is cool, too - I love how generous and warm she is, and I wish she'd been in more of the story.
I'm not usually into romance but this was definitely cute. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed, but how it did so while they both mostly stayed true to who they were. It's not about changing to please someone - it's about being accepted just as you are.
The karma angle was probably a little weak for my tastes, but it means that you can hold on to realism by wondering if maybe it IS all just coincidental. I did enjoy the ethical dilemmas it led to, but it still felt poorly utilised. The story definitely feels more about the romance than karma.
A lot of people are going to love this. I found the writing really addictive, and got to a point where I was surprised to realise I was so close to finishing it. It's pretty adorable, with characters that are easy to fall in love with and sea creatures that will steal your heart. The drama may be slightly predictable, but the relationship dynamics make it totally worth while.
Okay mostly I'm excited this is being released OFFICIALLY so that Goodreads will finally accept it XD
I won a copy a while back (two copies, actually -Okay mostly I'm excited this is being released OFFICIALLY so that Goodreads will finally accept it XD
I won a copy a while back (two copies, actually - I donated the second) and it was a fun little read! Here's the review I originally tacked on to the end of my Illuminae Review.
***
The novella is a prequel, introducing AIDAN before the events of Illuminae. It's a short story but it adds a lot of interesting depth to Aidan's character and the conversations with Olivia were rather intriguing.
There's also a couple of name drops that you'll recognise if you're familiar with the rest of the series.
Despite it being a prequel, I'd definitely recommend reading it AFTER Illuminae, because it gives extra insight and has a more profound effect when you know what's coming.
It was a fun little addition so I'm glad I got a copy! Grateful to Allen & Unwin and Dymocks for the win. :)...more
Yes. It's true. This piece of Christmas fluff has thawed my icy heart and left me a melted mess of joy and tenderness and Eugh.
I just loved it, okay?!
Yes. It's true. This piece of Christmas fluff has thawed my icy heart and left me a melted mess of joy and tenderness and good old Christmas Spirit.
I mean, I don't even know how to explain why I got so much enjoyment out of the emotional rollercoaster this story took me on. I felt every emotion a human can feel reading this book, I'm certain of it. I was so thoroughly hooked that I didn't even have time to feel ashamed of myself for loving a romance novel so much. I just fully embraced the love. If that isn't Christmas spirit right there, I don't know what is.
This wonderful Christmas story follows Lee, who is a single mother to 5yr old Jasper, who is the most important thing in her life. She's got no time for romance, but thankfully her job as a celebrity photographer keeps her busy and allows her to meet people to scratch the itch when she needs it. Then of course something unusual happens - a book ends up in her bike basket, and it's got a strange message scrawled inside. Lee sets about trying to solve this puzzle; meanwhile secrets from her past are drifting to the surface and her simple, controlled life begins to get a little out of hand ...
I won't lie: I was mildly concerned when it started in a war zone, since I abhor reading war stories. However, beyond the prologue I found it added such a fascinating depth to the story through Lee's character, and I just really loved her journey from a war photojournalist to this celebrity photographer still trying to make a difference in the lives of others. I loved who it made her, but also her growth throughout the story as she began to deal with these things.
There were a few different things going on but it never felt messy or out of control - rather, it added a fullness to the story that made it even more enticing to me. Like Lee, I got swept up in the lives of the people around her, and I loved all of them. I loved that Lee would help out almost incidentally - like it was just part of her DNA. But she's no martyr, either - she sticks up for herself, she doesn't hide or lie about her feelings (much) and she is determined to do things on her own terms.
The motherhood angle is another one I'm wary of because I can never relate but, again, I was completely sucked in by the relationship between Lee and her son. It's such a beautiful, meaningful part of the story, and I loved that he was always her number one concern no matter what else was happening. It struck me as much more real than some other stories I've read, where children tend to take a backseat to new love. Jasper was a huge part of this novel, and Lee's love for him is where this novel gets so much of its heart.
At the same time, it was also a lot of fun falling in love with pretty much all the men in this novel. I'm so glad that, as a reader, I don't have to choose - I can have them all! Sam is obviously the one who stole my heart the most, but I also just loved how supportive her friends were, and even the sincerity of the friendship between her and Harry (even though it's kind of messed up on the surface). They were all such real characters and even though they had their own moments of pain their places in this novel brought me so much joy.
The mystery with the book was quite curious, but was just another layer to fatten up the story, rather than the sole driving storyline. I liked that. I appreciated that it wasn't laser-focused, and that Lee still went about living her life in the meantime.
There really was a lot going on in this story but I was drawn in so thoroughly that it seemed to flow together pretty seamlessly to me. Some may find it a little long but I honestly couldn't get enough.
Honestly, I am feeling so much Christmas cheer right now, thanks to this book. It's literally Christmas Eve, I've barely thought about Christmas once this year, and now suddenly I'm just overflowing with love and gratitude and I want to go hug my neighbours. (Obviously I won't, since 2020 is the year hugs were abolished.)
I freaking loved it. It made me so happy. I think it's the first time I've rated a romance novel 5 stars. I don't even care. *happy sigh*
Thank you to the person who recommended I read one of her Christmas novels. You have given me a great joy this holiday season. :)
When this book released, I was firmly on the fence (see below for original thoughts).
I wasn't at all motivated to read it, but the positive reviews thWhen this book released, I was firmly on the fence (see below for original thoughts).
I wasn't at all motivated to read it, but the positive reviews that started rolling in had me asking you, the GR community, if it was worth taking a chance on.
You said yes.
You were right.
This is a beautiful story.
It's heart-warming and heartbreaking; it's hard and soft; it's funny and sad. There are so many elements to it - it's like articles of clothing coming together to create the perfect outfit. Everything works in harmony, even if some of those things are bad. They're an important part of the overall look.
The blurb gives us Sam and Vic, who meet at opposite ends of a bridge they're both planning to jump from. Wouldn't be much of a story if they got away with it, so instead we get to see their friendship blossom into something that allows them both to learn a little more about themselves, as well as each other. Along the way, we'll encounter friends, enemies, and everything in between.
I definitely went into this one quite sceptical, especially since the old-person-young-person friendship is starting to feel a little overdone to me, so it was a surprise when I became absorbed so quickly.
Me: Ehhh, I don't know if I want to read it. It's probably terrible. Also me: *reads entire book in a day*
Sam's story just fascinated me so completely. I was wary of getting my heart broken because - let's be honest - it's a bit of a rough start. But then it gave me Aggie, and the The Boy Who Steals Houses vibes were so strong I felt instantly happier. It felt like, yes, we were probably in for some tough times, but everything would work out okay in the end. I'm certain Aggie must have some De Lainey blood in her.
It did end up feeling a little simplistic, which is why it didn't quite make the 5-stars for me. If I may elaborate: (view spoiler)[I felt it was all a little too neat and tidy - Sam suffered some truly horrible stuff but then, lucky him, he just happens to meet the right people so he somehow ends up with his own house and 130K+ to boot, PLUS someone pays for his schooling, PLUS he's so amazingly GIFTED that he gets to study under some master chef dude. That's a lot of things magically turning out well for Sam. It cheapened the story for me. I appreciated that the story included the therapy sessions, so that we can see Sam is still pretty damaged, even with all that money and luck tumbling in his direction, but I'm still a little disappointed that it went the PG route. I feel like a bit more darkness and/or uncertainty would have wrung my emotions out a little more thoroughly. (hide spoiler)] It was a light story in spite of some of its darker moments, and while I'm glad it wasn't 400-odd pages of depressing, it did somehow leave me feeling a little off-balance. It has some humourous episodes, but because the tone is quite heavy they're tougher to laugh at.
All the same, it was a really heart-felt story that had me fully immersed in Sam's life.
It's a contemporary story that mulls over the importance of identity, family and self-acceptance. It's also, refreshingly, nothing like Jasper Jones. So that was a solid bonus for me.
Thank you to everyone who convinced me to read it. Now it's my turn to pass on the love.
***
UPDATE 30/10/20: I have now purchased this book. Thanks for the peer pressure, friends! Now let's see how long it takes me to get to it lol.
***
Wow this is getting some amazing reviews!
Only I have two problems:
1. I didn't like Jasper Jones as much as everyone else (overrated) 2. I am someone who definitely judges books by their covers and I cannot support that mullet.
But maaaaaybe I'll be peer pressured into it. Maybe.
If you've read it, please feel free to leave your argument For or Against in the comments! Thanks!...more
Look, honestly? I thought it started a little slow.
But once it got going, BOY did it get going!
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the previLook, honestly? I thought it started a little slow.
But once it got going, BOY did it get going!
WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the previous two books in the series.
I'm not going to set the scene; if you're reading a review for the third book, hopefully you already know what's come in the two before. Safe to say, Mia is neck deep in trouble but thankfully has some pretty reliable people wading beside her.
I'm not a huge fan of stories that spend a lot of time on ships, talking about sailing and storms and the like. I'm only interested if it involves people being eaten by sea monsters.
So the first bit kinda dragged for me because it felt a bit slow - I feel like there was a bigger focus on the smut relationship between Mia and Ash and since I never got on board that ship either, it was tough to get through.
But then!!
CARNAGE! MAYHEM! MURDER!
And suddenly I was as happy as a Mia drenched in blood.
So yeah.
This is a pretty good conclusion to the series. Epic world building. Fun characters. Lots of blood and betrayal and fun gruesome deaths. Twists and turns and gods and monsters and oceans and deserts and Mia just stabbing and slicing her way through all of it. I actually spent a bit of this book confused about what was happening but generally happy to just go along with all the mayhem.It was a lot of fun.
All my other thoughts are spoilers.
AND I MEAN SPOILERS. Not just like themes or vague happenings these thoughts will absolutely ruin all of the epic moments for you if you read them before you read this book. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK.
(view spoiler)[ -Okay look I REALLY never cared for Ash and Mia together so I spent a lot of this book waiting for Tric to murder Ash in her sleep. Oh how badly I wanted him to shove her over the edge! But then that stuff with the Goldwine happened and I was happy anyway.
-Ummmmm Mia telling Mr Kindly to go away was just as brutal as movie Frodo telling movie Sam to go away. HEARTBREAKING.
-Everyone gives Mr Kristoff a hard time for killing off characters we love but I was totally okay with it? I think the hardest one for me to deal with in this entire book was Eclipse. The rest I was sad but definitely not broken up over.
-Mia getting a happy ending actually kinda spoiled it all for me tbh. Why do dead people not stay dead in this book??! All that sacrifice for nothing. What a waste.
-That blood dude actually had some pretty badass firepower in the end. Still an A-Grade creep, but a powerful one.
-Mia becoming the Pirate King was such an epic moment. It was just another classic reminder that Mia doesn't play by anyone's rules but her own.
-The Inception-level stuff with the books inside this book was fantastic. Jay Kristoff using his own characters to mock his own footnotes and then using his own characters to tell you exactly what he thinks of your mocking his footnotes was pretty hilarious. And! There were actually fewer footnotes so hooray for that too haha. Clearly this is an author who listens to feedback, and finds a nice balance of using it to be better and also not giving a sh*t.
-I really enjoyed the sea monsters eating people, but wish there could have been more of that than of the ship breaking apart. *sigh* I do have such a weakness for blood and guts.
-I felt sad for that dude who died a virgin. Right as he was gonna get some, too. :(
-Poor old Tric. I felt so sorry for him. He got f***ed by these books, man.
-I like Cloud and I hope he became Pirate King in the end. I think he did? But anyhoo I liked him. Even if he was a ship person and I am not. He made the ship stuff more interesting.
I appreciate the body count in this book, tbh. This was never supposed to be a happy series full of rainbows and sunshine so I'm really glad about the amount of darkness and despair and death.
-Mostly still confused about the gods and goddesses and the sky stuff and how it all actually worked. But I'm glad we have regular night and day in our world so I get the gist of how things looked in the end. Even if I'm still confused about the gods existing.
- ... Hold up. Wait. I just realised I am confused about what's going to happen to Jonnen?! Was he really dabbling in the blood stuff??!
Nothing beats old school horror, and James was a master of it. I read this collection years ago and I still get goosebumps thinking of some of his ambNothing beats old school horror, and James was a master of it. I read this collection years ago and I still get goosebumps thinking of some of his ambiguous horrors that were mostly created by imagination after his written prompts.
These stories rely heavily on suspense and unanswered questions, and are more about subtle shivers than full-on nightmare creations. A fantastic collection and one I'll return to for sure....more
This story is both deeply disturbing and absolutely brilliant.
It's very much a gruesome slasher flick, which begins with a horrific massacre and doesnThis story is both deeply disturbing and absolutely brilliant.
It's very much a gruesome slasher flick, which begins with a horrific massacre and doesn't get any prettier, but there's also an intelligence to it that contrasts the violence with very real character depth.
This is not horror for horror's sake.
This is horror that allows for a fascinating examination of trauma.
One of the most incredible horror stories I've read in a long time.
I have this rule about only giving 5-star ratings to books I would definitely read again, but I might just be breaking it for this one. Because I don't know that I'd want to re-live this nightmare, but the initial 4-star rating I gave it just wasn't sitting right. It's worthy of 5.
Here's why:
It's unpredictable You think you know the formula, you think you can guess what's coming ... you are wrong.
It doesn't pull punches It gets straight into the nastiness, and it does not hold back. There is plenty of suffering to go around and this book is creative with it.
It's intelligent The violence is not the main feature, it's just another part that comprises the whole. The story takes the titular theme and explores several manifestations of it, all while holding the tension and probing the depths of trauma.
The writing is addictive From the very first page it's almost impossible to resist the compulsion to read. There are certainly moments that will make you want to pause but it draws you back in soon enough. There's just something about the way it plays out that makes you want to see it through to the end.
A fantastic horror story with fascinating themes, some epic scenes and memorable characters. Cannot recommend it highly enough....more
I really enjoyed the writing of this, but the story was a little underwhelming. Only I don't know if it was the story itself or just the 2020 bug. I tI really enjoyed the writing of this, but the story was a little underwhelming. Only I don't know if it was the story itself or just the 2020 bug. I think, from a distance, it should be a 4-star book, but my experience was a 3-star. So let's call it 3.5.
The Good
1. Creed is a Jerk He's such a brilliant anti-hero. He's self-centred, smokes and drinks far too much, treats people like dirt, and he delights in his job of snapping embarrassing photos of the rich and famous. He excels at his job. Because he has no shame. He is a despicable human being and totally doesn't care.
2. Creed is a Cynic This guy doesn't believe anything he can't see with his own eyes. And even when he does see it himself, he'll still try to find a logical explanation for it. This made for an interesting mind-f*ck. Because it makes us, the reader, cynical as well. Are we going to believe in the supernatural occurrences? Or are we going to believe whatever thin logical explanation Creed finds?
3. The Storytelling is Fantastic More than anything, I loved the way this was written. This is a proper story-telling narrative, with the author explaining things for us and injecting some brilliant humour in the process. It's clever, witty, and I found myself just really enjoying the narrator as a character himself.
4. The RANDOMNESS Honestly, most of the time I had no idea what was happening, where it was going, what it was trying to set up. Zero ideas. It was hectic. There was so much random stuff happening - demons and vampires and bugs and faces at windows and evil toilets and ... SO MUCH. I thoroughly enjoyed how disturbing it all was, but I found it more amusing than terrifying. Did I mention the evil toilet??
The Bad
1. The Plot is ... What? I still am not 100% sure of what the heck was happening here. It begins with Creed snapping a photo he shouldn't have, and it leads to this absolute chaos that is basically Creed being terrorised for reasons I couldn't work out. It was strange and hard to follow and it lessened my motivation to pick it up because the drive wasn't really there for me.
2. The Scare Factor is Low I was hoping for a horror story but this definitely felt more like comedy. There are some creepy moments but the way Creed (and the narrator) deals with everything just makes it more humourous. I think, because Creed never entirely believed any of this horrific stuff was happening, it took the threat out of it. It was hilarious, but never raised a single goosebump for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS I won't lie, the 2020 bug has really affected my reading experiences this year, and I find I'm a lot harder to please. I suspect this story lost a star to that. On paper, this book is everything I should have enjoyed, but it took me a lot longer to read than I anticipated, because I never really had the urge to pick it up again. I think that's part the fault of the plot, but also part me.
It's funny and unique, and Creed is a brilliant character, but as a horror novel it does fall a little flat. Still, there are some really interesting monsters here and the writing is truly brilliant, so others are likely to be more impressed than me....more
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