the lockdown Bookshelf (part 1)
This past month the U.K has been in Lockdown. During Lockdown I've gone to therapy with Frankie Bridge, discovered a cursed village in Kent, attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, joined the Dauntless faction, and uncovered the secrets of a dystopian society, all from the comfort of my own home. If any of this sounds interesting to you, please keep reading...
The Carousel of Time
by Alex Charlton
It's not every day that you meet someone who has an author as a relative, and so as soon as my colleague told me her mother was an author and told me the synopsis of her book I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and help support a small author. I was not disappointed.
The first 100-150 pages of the book I found a little difficult to get into, but this was more down to my lack of concentration and personal matters than it was the storyline. We enter the town of Ashwood in Anglo-Saxon times with a Viking settlement and a curse. After being sent forward into the eighties, we stumble into the life of Kate, the main character of the novel. We explore and uncover the secrets of this beloved village and the personalities of the residents who may become close friends or foes. Transported on a journey of Kate's life in Ashwood, exploring the connections and relationships that unfold and the elements, religion, and witchcraft that lingers behind closed doors.
After those 150 pages, I became enthralled in Kate's life, willing her to succeed in whichever endeavor she wishes to pursue and that above all she finds happiness. Surprisingly I found myself in suspense with every page I turned, I had no idea where the story was going to go next, what would happen to the characters I cared for and the ones I did not, and the foundations of the Priory.
It is above all, a beautiful story with themes of love and friendship the triumph of good over evil and how sometimes time itself is a fragile human construct.
This has a place in my evergrowing bookshelf.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone
by J. K. Rowling
A little ill and feeling a tad sorry for myself with all the worries of the world swimming in my head I needed a moment of calm, of escapism, a little bit of magic. It goes without saying the Harry Potter series is magical. Going back to Hogwarts is like being greeted with a warm hug at home after being away for a long while. I'm not one to re-read books very often, (hardly surprising given my current bookworm status is only a recent one), but the Harry Potter books are ones I am always drawn to, time and time again.
The first book follows Harry on his discovery that he is, in fact, a wizard! (Who knew!) and we get to discover the wizarding world alongside him, from the first tip to Diagon Alley, to being sorted into a Hogwarts house, to making friendships, fighting a troll, and more dangerous creatures. I'm a big fan of the Wizarding World of HarryPotter and this book will always have a place on my bookshelf.
Open
by Frankie Bridge
This book may be very comforting and informative to some but triggering for others, some may only need to or be able to read the opening letter from Frankie and some will finish the entire book in a day. The opening letter brought great comfort to me and foreshadowed the contents of the book would be as warm and as reassuring as it possibly could be.
I want to start by saying I know and understand the courage it takes to speak out about mental health and help to educate others or help someone feel less alone, and I applaud anyone who has done so, including Frankie. The book is aptly named 'Open', not only does Frankie divulge her mental health journey, but also a stay in the hospital, her ever-changing fears from childhood to motherhood, and the strain put on her relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. It was comforting and only at times slightly distressing to read, I read this book over three days, it's an easy read but I knew for my mental health I couldn't read it in one fell swoop and would advise other not to either.
I really enjoyed having the perspective of both Frankie's Psychiatrist and Psychologist as a sounding board to help explain the complex therapies, medication, or negative thoughts Frankie was expressing. I found it educational, reassuring, and feel it will be a great resource for those suffering from or those living with an individual who suffers from a mental illness.
This book has a place on my bookshelf but I'm sure it won't stay there for long as I'll be lending it to someone very soon.
The Carousel of Time
by Alex Charlton
It's not every day that you meet someone who has an author as a relative, and so as soon as my colleague told me her mother was an author and told me the synopsis of her book I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and help support a small author. I was not disappointed.
The first 100-150 pages of the book I found a little difficult to get into, but this was more down to my lack of concentration and personal matters than it was the storyline. We enter the town of Ashwood in Anglo-Saxon times with a Viking settlement and a curse. After being sent forward into the eighties, we stumble into the life of Kate, the main character of the novel. We explore and uncover the secrets of this beloved village and the personalities of the residents who may become close friends or foes. Transported on a journey of Kate's life in Ashwood, exploring the connections and relationships that unfold and the elements, religion, and witchcraft that lingers behind closed doors.
After those 150 pages, I became enthralled in Kate's life, willing her to succeed in whichever endeavor she wishes to pursue and that above all she finds happiness. Surprisingly I found myself in suspense with every page I turned, I had no idea where the story was going to go next, what would happen to the characters I cared for and the ones I did not, and the foundations of the Priory.
It is above all, a beautiful story with themes of love and friendship the triumph of good over evil and how sometimes time itself is a fragile human construct.
This has a place in my evergrowing bookshelf.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone
by J. K. Rowling
A little ill and feeling a tad sorry for myself with all the worries of the world swimming in my head I needed a moment of calm, of escapism, a little bit of magic. It goes without saying the Harry Potter series is magical. Going back to Hogwarts is like being greeted with a warm hug at home after being away for a long while. I'm not one to re-read books very often, (hardly surprising given my current bookworm status is only a recent one), but the Harry Potter books are ones I am always drawn to, time and time again.
The first book follows Harry on his discovery that he is, in fact, a wizard! (Who knew!) and we get to discover the wizarding world alongside him, from the first tip to Diagon Alley, to being sorted into a Hogwarts house, to making friendships, fighting a troll, and more dangerous creatures. I'm a big fan of the Wizarding World of HarryPotter and this book will always have a place on my bookshelf.
Open
by Frankie Bridge
This book may be very comforting and informative to some but triggering for others, some may only need to or be able to read the opening letter from Frankie and some will finish the entire book in a day. The opening letter brought great comfort to me and foreshadowed the contents of the book would be as warm and as reassuring as it possibly could be.
I want to start by saying I know and understand the courage it takes to speak out about mental health and help to educate others or help someone feel less alone, and I applaud anyone who has done so, including Frankie. The book is aptly named 'Open', not only does Frankie divulge her mental health journey, but also a stay in the hospital, her ever-changing fears from childhood to motherhood, and the strain put on her relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. It was comforting and only at times slightly distressing to read, I read this book over three days, it's an easy read but I knew for my mental health I couldn't read it in one fell swoop and would advise other not to either.
I really enjoyed having the perspective of both Frankie's Psychiatrist and Psychologist as a sounding board to help explain the complex therapies, medication, or negative thoughts Frankie was expressing. I found it educational, reassuring, and feel it will be a great resource for those suffering from or those living with an individual who suffers from a mental illness.
This book has a place on my bookshelf but I'm sure it won't stay there for long as I'll be lending it to someone very soon.
Divergent
By Veronica Roth
What a book! I very much enjoyed this read and can tell why it's a best-seller! We follow the journey of 16-year-old Beatrice Price, choosing to leave her Abnegation faction for the Dauntless, through her struggles and triumphs to become Tris, a kickass, train-hopping, building juping gal. Dauntless life may be harder and harsher than any other faction she could have chosen, Tris has to navigate her way through combat training, fear simulations, and forging new relationships and well as trying to keep her divergence hidden from all. Soon discovering all is not as it seems in this dystopian city, and that some of the five Factions; Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the carers and farmers), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the fearless), Erudite (the intellectuals), have secrets of their own.
What are the factions hiding? Will she make it through dauntless training and become a member? Can she keep her divergence secret? I'm never one for spoilers so you'll have to read to find out. The book is as always better than the film, an easy and gripping read, I couldn't put it down. I really don't think this often but as soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. It most definitely has a place on my bookshelf. The film is also fab, so if you're not a book person check that out instead.
What are the factions hiding? Will she make it through dauntless training and become a member? Can she keep her divergence secret? I'm never one for spoilers so you'll have to read to find out. The book is as always better than the film, an easy and gripping read, I couldn't put it down. I really don't think this often but as soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. It most definitely has a place on my bookshelf. The film is also fab, so if you're not a book person check that out instead.
Insurgent
By Veronica Roth
Not wanting to end Tris's journey I jumped straight into the sequel 'Insurgent' and found myself reconnecting with the main characters Tris and Four exactly where I had parted with them at the end of 'Divergent'. The smooth transition and continuation of the story meant I was right back in with the action and didn't have any "10 years later" catch-ups to do.
I enjoyed the continuation of the storyline, adored moments between characters, the action, and the ending. If I thought 'Divergent' had a lot of secrets, I was unprepared for 'Insurgent', which seems to escalate the level of secrecy between not only the factions but our main characters too. Whilst some the mysteries behind five factions unknown, the factionless, and the divergent are revealed the amount of secrecy and plans led to a lack of communication between the majority of characters and it annoyed me to no end.
Tris went from being a fairly mature 16-year-old to a fairly immature one, granted she had a lot to deal with when you add everything up and didn't have the best support system in place, her relationships appeared toxic and found herself interchanging new and reconnecting old alliances.
I also just want to add that everyone is portrayed a lot nicer in the films, Janine, Peter, and Caleb are all a lot higher on the cruelty scale in the books, the storyline also changes in the film adaptation, as always there is more details and links connected in the book.
I'm not as in love with this part of the story as the first, but it is still worth a read to continue the journey, uncover the mysteries of the factions, and the big reveal at the end. I think I might take a little break before reading the 'Allegiant'; the end of the trilogy.
Have you been on any adventures lately? Which would you recommend?
Stay Home, Stay Home, and enjoy a good book.
Not wanting to end Tris's journey I jumped straight into the sequel 'Insurgent' and found myself reconnecting with the main characters Tris and Four exactly where I had parted with them at the end of 'Divergent'. The smooth transition and continuation of the story meant I was right back in with the action and didn't have any "10 years later" catch-ups to do.
I enjoyed the continuation of the storyline, adored moments between characters, the action, and the ending. If I thought 'Divergent' had a lot of secrets, I was unprepared for 'Insurgent', which seems to escalate the level of secrecy between not only the factions but our main characters too. Whilst some the mysteries behind five factions unknown, the factionless, and the divergent are revealed the amount of secrecy and plans led to a lack of communication between the majority of characters and it annoyed me to no end.
Tris went from being a fairly mature 16-year-old to a fairly immature one, granted she had a lot to deal with when you add everything up and didn't have the best support system in place, her relationships appeared toxic and found herself interchanging new and reconnecting old alliances.
I also just want to add that everyone is portrayed a lot nicer in the films, Janine, Peter, and Caleb are all a lot higher on the cruelty scale in the books, the storyline also changes in the film adaptation, as always there is more details and links connected in the book.
I'm not as in love with this part of the story as the first, but it is still worth a read to continue the journey, uncover the mysteries of the factions, and the big reveal at the end. I think I might take a little break before reading the 'Allegiant'; the end of the trilogy.
Have you been on any adventures lately? Which would you recommend?
Stay Home, Stay Home, and enjoy a good book.
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