Book Club | December 2020 Roundup

Thursday, 31 December 2020

Book Club | December 2020 Roundup

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

"I was initially drawn to The 57 Bus as I hadn't seen/read that many YA Non-Fiction titles before. Due to the nature of the story there were many parts of the book that were tough to read, partciularly knowing that it was based on a real event taking place in California just a few years ago. Whilst the writing style wasn't 100% to my reading taste I found the book to be informative and appreciated that the author chose to highlight issues affecting many young people by sharing the two teenagers story in this way." - Erin

 

The Crossover (graphic novel) by Kwame Alexander and Dawud Anyabwile

"The illustrations in The Crossover are brilliant and I love the style of them. They’re black and white and orange, and it’s such a great way to portray the characters in this basketball-heavy graphic novel.

Overall, The Crossover was a good story and the illustrations really added to the whole feel of the book. Would I read it again? Probably not, no, but I did really enjoy it."

You can read Anjali's full review of The Crossover over on This Splendid Shambles.

Read more »

No comments

Group Collaboration | Our Favourite Reads of 2020!

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Group Collaboration | Our Favourite Reads of 2020!

With 2021 just a few days away it's time to once again share Team BB's favourite reads of the past year.

Which books were your favourite reads of 2020? We would love to hear all about the books you read and loved over the last twleve months. Share your lists in the comments section below or drop us reading recommendations over on Instagram.

"Despite the fact that I spent a lot of time inside this year, I did very little reading. I struggled to come up with a list of my top 5 favourite reads for 2020, and as I was looking through the books I've read this year, not many were 5 stars. These books I've listed I did really enjoy, though, and definitely recommend checking out." - Anjali

 

I read four of the five books I vowed to read in 2020 and I really enjoyed all of them. In fact, two of them, On the Come Up by Angie Thomas and Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, made it onto my top five books of the year!" - Anastasia

 

"This was the first time I've read 100+ books in one year and I really enjoyed the majority of them so choosing just five was really tricky. I almost bent the rules to share separate fiction and non-fiction lists, but it still would have been too difficult to narrow them down!" - Erin

Read more »

No comments

Book Club | Some Changes For 2021 + Printable Reading List

Saturday, 26 December 2020

Book Club | Some Changes For 2021 + Printable Reading List

After two years of a monthly book club prompt here at BB, we've decided to switch things up a bit for the new year and follow a different format in 2021... 

We've put together a list of 24 prompts covering a variety of challenges and how you choose to use our book club list is totally up to you! Try and tick off all 24, mix and match your favourite 12 for a monthly prompt, use them to create your own bingo sheets, or just dip in and out whenever you wish; there are no rules here! 

We've tried to include a nice mix of prompts, including a few which are great for seasonal readers, so there should be something for everyone. As always you're free to interpret the prompts however you wish but we encourage you to take the opportunity to diversify your TBR, discovering new authors, genres and generally stepping outside of your reading comfort zones.

Just like in previous years, we would love for you to share your mini reviews, photos etc with us over on Instagram using #bloggersbookshelf 

This year we would also like to invite you to share full reviews here on BB as guest reviewers so there's even more opportunities to get involved! Further information on how to share a guest review will be provided in an upcoming blog post as well as over on our Instagram page soon, but you can also send any enquiries regarding guest posting to bloggersbookshelf@gmail.com

Here on the blog, this change means our usual monthly book club intro and roundup posts won't be making an appearance in 2021, but we do have some other exciting things planned. Keep an eye out through the year for lists of suggested reads for some of the prompts, as well as updates on the books Team BB have read as part of thier personal BB book club challenges.

We really hope that you'll join us for another year of the BB book club however you choose to do so. Below you'll find the 2021 prompts list which can be printed or saved to your computer/phone/tablet. Happy reading and we'll see you in 2021! 

Read more »

No comments

Bookish Links #61

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Bookish Links #61

 

1. In need of a last minute gift idea? Check out this Buzzfeed post which pairs some brilliant books with amazing gifts.

2. Love music just as much as you love books? This Glitter Guide post is for you!

3. This post from Book Riot features 6 British YA authors of colour you could add to your 2021 TBR.

4. A Netflix adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s popular novel Firefly Lane is set to be released in 2021 - will you be watching?

5. How beautiful is this solid oak book cart?

6. In this video from The Break Patricia recommended 5 life-changing books to read.

7. If you’re looking for a book box to subscribe to for the new year, check out Heady Mix; a feminist book box focusing on diverse reads.

8. In this post Anjali shares her top tips for getting the most out of book sales.

9. This video about intentional reading and diverisfying your reads, complete with tips and suggested books, is a great watch over on YouTube.

10. If you’re looking for activities for a festive period at home, why not download our very own Bookish Pub Quiz?

This month's beautiful bookstagrams to follow:
@thebookclubbrum
@bookswithtay
@twinklingchapters
@thisstoryaintover
@mirandabythebook

Read more »

No comments

Features | 5 Popular Authors To Read For Our December Book Club

Monday, 14 December 2020

Features | 5 Popular Authors To Read For Our December Book Club

In case you missed our previous post, our final book club prompt for 2020 is to read a book by an author whose work you've never read before. We recently shared the two Young Adult titles Anjali and Erin have chosen to read, but if you're still stuck for ideas today's post is for you!

Below you'll find a short list of five authors whose work comes recommended by Team BB. We've selected a few names who have written multiple books we've enjoyed and listed our top picks, but we feel like you could pick up any title by one of these authors and it's sure to be a great read. Of course these are just a few suggestions and we couldn't include every amazing author we would recommend so if you've already read works by all five of the authors listed, why not visit the BB archives for more inspiration?

 

1. Juno Dawson 

First up we have Juno Dawson, author of a whole range of amazing YA novels, as well as non-fiction titles on topics such as sexuality, gender and mental health. Juno has been a firm Team BB favourite since the early days of our blog but if you haven't yet read her work now is the time!

Our top pick: Meat Market (2019)

2. Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo's latest release the amazing Clap When You Land was a huge success this year, winning the author a whole host more fans as well as a Gooreads Choice Award! Acevedo has a performing arts and slam poetry background which shines through in the lyrical way her novels are written.

Our top pick: With The Fire On High (2019)

3. Morgan Matson

Another YA author we love is Morgan Matson, whose contemporary tales feature everything from road trips to big family weddings, scavenger hunts and of course romance along the way. Whilst many of her books would be considered perfect for summer, we still think she would be a great choice for our December book club.

Our top pick: Since You've Been Gone (2014)

4. Taylor Jenkins Reid 

We couldn't write this roundup without including Taylor Jenkins Reid, another author whose work several members of Team BB have read and loved in recent years. Jenkins Reid has a way of making her characters and stories feel so realistic she might even have you taking to Google to find out more about Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo!

Our top pick: The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo (2017)

 

5. Neal Shusterman

With so many books to his name we're sure that you will have heard of Neal Shusterman's work before but if you've managed not to pick up a copy of Unwind, Scythe or Challenger Deep yet why not make time this month? We love how Shusterman always finds unique ways to discuss some really interesting topics through his popular YA titles.

Our top pick: Scythe (2016)

Whether you choose one of the authors listed above or not, if you join in with this month's book club prompt don't forget to share your photos and/or mini book reviews with us over on Instagram using #bloggersbookshelf

Read more »

No comments

Features | November Reads

Sunday, 13 December 2020

Features | November Reads

 

For some reason it feels like such a long time since I was writing my October roundup, but here we are again at the end of another month. Throughout November I read several awesome YA titles so I wanted to start off this month’s roundup by mentioning those.

The first two books in the A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder series by Holly Jackson follow teenager Pippa Fitz-Amobi as she uses her detective skills to solve local crimes. In the first book Pippa is on track to attend a top university and decides to focus her EPQ on a local murder case that she believes was incorrectly resolved. In the sequel Good Girl, Bad Blood we rejoin Pippa, now also a true crime podcast host, when her friend’s brother goes missing and she is once again drawn into helping solve the mystery. I sped through reading both of these as I really enjoyed the unusual format, the fact that they were set in the UK and the interesting characters. I was particularly impressed to learn that A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder was a debut novel and can’t wait to read the further two books planned for this series.

Another great sequel I read this month was Dear Justyce*, the highly anticipated follow up to Dear Martin. In this book instead of writing them himself Justyce becomes the recipient of letters from his childhood friend Quan who is in a Youth Detention Centre. In the book’s introduction author Nic Stone explains her reasons for writing the sequel she had never planned to write and how she was influenced by two boys who felt Justyce's experience wasn't reflective of their own. I’m really glad that Nic Stone decided to tell Quan’s story as it's so important to show this different perspective alongside Justyce's story. I thought the way the letters and flashbacks were incorporated worked perfectly for this well-paced novel and the characters felt very realistic. Whilst both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce can be read as standalone novels, I would highly recommend reading them together if you can.

My book club pick for November was Elizabeth Acevedo’s With The Fire On High, which although I didn’t quite have enough space to include in this month’s graphic, was also one of my favourite reads of the month. The book’s protagonist Emoni is a 17-year-old student, aspiring chef and mother to young daughter Emma who is struggling with all of her responsibilities and following her dreams. I loved reading about Emoni’s journey, balancing her school work, part-time job, and parenting, all whilst trying to raise money for a cookery class trip to Spain. I adored the characters in With The Fire On High as well as the different dynamics of Emoni’s relationships and particularly enjoy the way Acevedo writes young women’s stories.

Outside of the YA genre I finally got around to picking up a copy of The One by John Marrs which had been on my TBR list for a very long time. This was the second Marrs book I’ve read (the first was The Passengers) and I’m happy to say I really enjoyed it! In this thriller the chapters alternate between several different characters points of view, all connected by the central theme of a dating app which promises to find your perfect match based on your DNA. I really liked this format and thought it worked well for this story, sharing a wide variety of different outcomes of using the app and how it changed each character’s life. I also hear that there is going to be a Netflix series based on this book, so am looking forward to seeing how it translates onto the small screen.

The final book I wanted to include this month is I’m Thinking Of Ending Things which many people have been talking about recently thanks to another Netflix adaptation. Initially following a couple as they head to visit his parents for the first time out in the middle of nowhere but soon taking some sinister twists, the book has a small page count designed to be read in one sitting. Overall I thought the pacing was good and I remember being drawn in by the first chapter, however it didn’t really turn out to be quite what I was expecting and sadly I didn't love the ending as much as many readers seem to have. I can understand why the book has divided opinions but I have heard good things about the audiobook version and can see how this may enhance the reading experience - this would probably be a good choice if you’re thinking about picking up a copy.

*Review copy of Dear Justyce ℅ Netgalley

Read more »

No comments

Book Club | December 2020 - By An Author You've Never Read

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Book Club | December 2020 - By An Author You've Never Read

For our 2020 BB Book Club we've put together another printable list of twelve different prompts, one for each month of the year. Just we did in 2019, on the 1st day of each month we'll be introducing you to the month's prompt and the books team members each plan to read, along with some other suggested reads we think you'll love. Of course, these are just ideas so please feel free to interpret the prompts however you wish!

We're also inviting you to share photos and mini reviews of your book club picks on social media using #bloggersbookshelf or tag @bloggersbookshelf on Instagram.

Our prompt for December is...  

By An Author You've Never Read

 

What we'll be reading...

Erin's pick: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

"With lockdowns affecting libraries this year, when my local library was open and extending loan periods I decided to pick up a whole stack of books for the rest of the year. One of those was The 57 Bus which intrigued me as it is based on a real event which happened in California back in 2013. I've heard great things about this book and am looking forward to reading it this month."

Anjali's Pick: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

"I've had this book for several months now and I have yet to pick it up. This is a graphic novel version of Alexander's The Crossover and it's illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile. I believe the novel is a novel-in-verse, as Kwame Alexander is a poet, but I don't know for sure. Flicking through the graphic novel it definitely is, and I'm looking forward to reading it!"

Use the hashtag #bloggersbookshelf or tag @bloggersbookshelf on Instagram to share your photos and mini reviews with us throughout the month!

Read more »

No comments