Winter Wrap Up

Killjoy, by the wonderful Holly Jackson, is an AGGTM novella and a very good one. I expected it to be brilliant, and those expectations were certainly met. The plot of Killjoy is that Pip is invited to a 1920s themed murder mystery party, where as you’d expect, Pip’s detective skills steal the show. The murder is that of a rich man called Reginald Remy, there are a bunch of suspects and the guests have to play along and hopefully come to the right conclusion. As the story unfolds, the pieces of the puzzle start to come together for both the reader and Pip, ultimately leading her to a brilliant conclusion. The end of the book shows how brilliant Pip’s mind is and sets up part of AGGTM. The ending was exceptionally well written, showcasing the author’s deep understanding of the characters and prepares the reader for the first book of the main trilogy. A 4.5 star read. 

Anyone who knows anything about me will know that one of my favourite authors is George Orwell. Homage to Catalonia is one of his autobiographical pieces and recounts Orwell’s time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. It offers a unique insight into the tumultuous political situation that was pevelant in Spain and other European countries during that period.This book illustrates his time in the trenches fighting in Spain and is something I think anyone should read if they are interested in thistory. It highlights some really interesting points about humans and war.

Some of my favourite quotes are – “No one I met at this time – doctors, nurses, practicantes, or fellow patients – failed to assure me that a man who is hit through the neck and survives is the luckiest creature alive. I could not help thinking that it would be even luckier not to be hit at all.”

 Another quote I like is after the end of his time fighting in Spain, “all sleeping the deep, deep sleep of England, from which I sometimes fear that we shall never wake till we are jerked out of it by the roar of bombs.”.

I’ll leave you to ponder what each quote means to you. 5 stars. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Where to start? For one thing, I absolutely love the cover, but that’s beside the point. I ripped through the pages of this fantastic novel in two sittings. The book, while being absolutely brilliant and having heart warming moments, absolutely destroyed me in the last 100 pages or so. This is my new favourite book. Sorry, Evelyn Hugo (still a close second though). I love everything from the cover to the plot to the world building to the characters. I absolutely love the characters in the book, my favourite characters being Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt. They have an enemies-to-lovers relationship and I think it is written beautifully. Their love for one another at the end is so heartwarming. There are also a few characters I hate, but that is what makes a book good. I really don’t like Iris’ brother, Forest and the god Dacre because they have no empathy for others feelings. The ending is one of those that completely destroys you emotionally. I was so concerned for Roman and Iris. That being said, this book is still my favourite and has become one of my comfort reads. I’m going to have to give this book 7 stars (yes, I know there are only 5). 

“The Five” by Hallie Rubenhold is a book that portrays the lives of five women who were murdered by Jack the Ripper. Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary-Jane Kelly were all victims of the infamous killer. The book explores their humanity by showcasing their personal flaws, passions, inspirations, likes and dislikes. These women are known to us only because of their violent deaths. However, it is important to understand that they were individuals in their own right and their stories deserve to be told.

I recently read this book which wasrecommended by my history teacher a while ago. It was a fascinating read that shed light on the lives of women in history, particularly those who were victims of murder in the 1800s. I loved learning about their lives, how they lived, and what shaped them into the people they were. The book not only gave me insight into their lives but also into the lives of people from that era. It was an eye-opener and one of the best historical books I’ve ever read. Most importantly, it showed that these women were more than just prostitutes and victims of murder, and I loved that it created an entirely new picture of them.The Five appropriately earns 5 stars. 

The fifth volume of the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman was exactly what I needed it to be and more. The brilliant story of Nick and Charlie continues in this latest instalment and I loved how it focuses more on other characters such as Elle, Nick and Tao.

The main plot  revolves around  Nick and a few other characters who are looking for a university to attend as their time at high school is coming to a close. Nick and Charlie’s relationship has also stepped up a level and they are more comfortable to be themselves and in an open relationship, which I love. However, Nick struggles with moving on to the next chapter of his life and is afraid of leaving Charlie behind. The book does a brilliant job of illustrating this (quite literally!).

The story was well-told, and we get to discover  new layers of some of the characters which I enjoyed. The story is progressing brilliantly! I have loved this series since the first pages of volume one and have loved following Charlie and Nick’s story. I cannot wait for the final instalment of the series in volume 6! 4 stars. 

Down and Out by Orwell is one of his more autobiographical books.It details hisyears as an impoverished writer in, as you probably guessed, Paris and London. Hearing that sentence, I can understand why many would write it off as another boring classic, but I enjoyed it. The book provides insight into the daily life of not only the author but also of many people like him. Orwell’s observations and insights about the life of a person in his situation during that time are both interesting and thought-provoking. I learnt a lot by reading this book and I feel everyone should read it to gain a better understanding of the plight of people in  different situations. Although the book takes place in the 1920s and 30s, it saddened me to see that many attitudes towards those living in poverty have not improved and maybe even worsened. Finishing the book in 3 days, it definitely deserves 5 stars.