A Bundle of Books Posts

Published 09/07/2018

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng | Review

Title: Little Fires Everywhere

Author: Celeste Ng

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Publication Date: 7 September 2017

Genre: Adult Fiction

Where To Purchase: Takealot, Exclusive Books, Book Depository

Rating:

Celeste Ng’s novel, Little Fires Everywhere, is the story of two families whose lives intertwine in Shaker Heights – an ordered, middle-class American neighbourhood. The Richardsons resemble the perfect family – wealthy, beautiful, and successful all around. The Warrens, on the other hand, are nomadic, minimalist, and do not play by the rules. The friendships that develop between the children of these two families marks the beginning of a complex story concerned with the meaning of family and the subtle impact that people have on each other’s lives. I highly enjoyed Little Fires Everywhere for its focus on small-town politics and the complex characters. However, I felt that the novel made some questionable comments regarding adoption and who can be considered a mother, which ultimately made me a bit uncomfortable.

Read MoreLittle Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng | Review
3 Non-Fiction Books I Want To Read
Published 04/07/2018

3 Non-Fiction Books I Want To Read

It’s time for a confession: I’ve never picked up a non-fiction book and made it to the very end. I’ve tried with every part of my being but I just can’t seem to get into them! I’m definitely more of a fiction reader and have always found non-fiction to be very intimidating, whether its a biography or a history book. I worry that these books won’t grab my attention or read very easily and that all their information will go way over my head. But there are a number of non-fiction books that have come under my radar recently that have really piqued my interest. Fiction is my comfort zone but I think that non-fiction can really benefit me educationally and can also be reading that I enjoy. Here are 3 non-fiction books that are on my reading list!

Read More3 Non-Fiction Books I Want To Read
Published 02/07/2018

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | Review

Title: When Dimple Met Rishi

Author: Sandhya Menon

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: 30 May 2017

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Where To Purchase: Takealot, Exclusive Books, Book Depository

Rating: 

I’m always quite hesitant to dive into YA contemporary because I don’t think it’s my type of genre. It sometimes reads as quite cheesy and the romantic relationships tend to be super cringe-worthy. But every once in a while I hear of a contemporary that stands the chance to defeat these expectations and make me fall head-over-heels in love with the genre. I thought When Dimple Met Rishi would be that book but, alas, it is not. I was really drawn by the tech-loving, nerdy protagonist and, whilst the novel was fun, easy reading, I was left quite underwhelmed by the end. Of course, there were many cheesy moments, but more than that, this novel had the opportunity to discuss really meaningful topics. Instead, it just became another YA contemporary filled with teenage angst and less than interesting characters.

Read MoreWhen Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | Review
Published 25/06/2018

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black | Review

Title: The Cruel Prince

Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Publication Date: 2 January 2018

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Where To Purchase: Takealot, Exclusive Books, Book Depository

Rating:Star2 Star2 Star2 Star2 Star2

Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince has found itself caught up in tons of hype over the past few months. Fans the world over have been placing this novel on the highest pedestal and speaking nothing but praises for it. It’s no secret that I am the type of reader that often gets pulled into reading a book by hype alone (and I usually find myself participating in said hype after reading the book myself). Whilst there have been some exceptions to this, The Cruel Prince is definitely not one of them. If I could erase my own memory of reading The Cruel Prince just to do so again with fresh eyes, I would – it was that phenomenal. Holly Black builds her novel upon the foundations of complex family dynamics and the dark, ominous setting of Faerie to produce a story filled to the brim with politics, deception, and conflicted characters. This page-turner definitely deserves a 5-star rating!

Read MoreThe Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black | Review