The books I read October – December (2018)

This quarter was absolutely boss for my reading and I am so pleased! I successfully completed my 50 book goal on the 27th November over a month before the year was out!

• The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet – I loved the beginning but somehow got a little bored by the end despite it being so short. It was wonderful overall but lacked a bit of spark.
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – I tried this before and couldn’t get into it but this time I adored it. To some degree, it reminded of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling – Somehow on my re-reads this one isn’t quite as magical as the others. But there’s absolutely no denying it’s beautiful. I’m so glad I live in a world where Harry Potter exists.
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris* – I stayed up till 2am to finish this – something I hadn’t done for some time. It is incredible. I honestly think everyone needs to read this – to be as close to the reality of the war, to learn more and because the world’s history is so important. A heart-wrenching story.
• Lessons: Part 1 by Jenny Colgan – So simple but so lovely. Perfect author for chilled out reading (or listening on audible).
• Normal People by Sally Rooney – One of those books where you close the pages and just don’t know what to think – but I loved it for that. A true work of genius. There are however a large number of triggers so please be mindful or ask someone who’s read it before reading this.
• Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It by Elizabeth Gilbert – This was a wonderful night time read. A lot of stories resonated with me and felt empowering but there were also a lot that I couldn’t connect with hence the lower rating.
• Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur – There’s a lot of negativity around Kaur which I don’t quite understand but I adore this anthology. I love the structure of the stages and so much resonated with me.
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling – Just as wonderful every single time 💙
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling – In previous years I’ve always said this is my least favourite of the series but I really got something new from it this time around and I adored it!
• An Island Christmas by Jenny Colgan – The first book since I got Goodreads that I simply couldn’t push through. I usually love Jenny Colgans books but I just couldn’t get this.
• The Suffragettes by Various (Penguin Little Black Classics) –  Thoroughly enjoyed this. It’s such an important part of history and I learned things I didn’t already know. It’s made me want to rewatch the movie suffragettes so I think I’ll make that my film for the week!
• The Reader by Bernhard Schlink – Awesome. Unique. A high recommendation.
• The Mage and the Magpie by Austin J Bailey – I just couldn’t finish this. It felt slow and boring. I had high hopes but am sadly disappointed.
• Tilly and the Bookwanderers (Pages & Co) by Anna James – I first purchased this novel as I loved Anna as a Youtuber and I knew this was a book about books. I did not expect to adore this to the extent I did but oh my goodness I fell in love. There was some predictability but equally some shock factors. It was wildly original and it’s made me want to read Anne of Green Gables and Alice in Wonderland asap. I’m so excited for future instalments. 
• The Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck – A wonderful children’s book. Perfect for single-parent families as a reminder that no matter the distance everyone loves each other and is thinking of each other at Christmas – the Christmas spirit I love. 

• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Makers, Mysteries and Magic – I absolutely loved this. I highly recommend to any Harry Potter fans & those who have seen the latest fantastic beasts films. It’s wonderful to learn more, for me especially about the props and costume, and you got to hear from a lot of the cast.

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.K.Rowling – I found this a really captivating read and found myself taking things away which I hadn’t before. Oh and I sobbed over Sirius’ death again, of course.
• The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy – Seemed almost like a half story to me. A little odd and not as quaint as I’d hoped but it wasn’t necessarily bad and still held some Christmas spirit.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – Beautiful. My 14th time (if not more) reading the series and I still take more away from it each time I read it and I couldn’t love the series more.
• A Promise Stitched in Time by Colleen Kosinski* – A stunning, haunting, captivating short story. I truly didn’t expect to adore it as I do. I highly recommend this!
• The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas by Tom Fletcher – Disgustingly brilliant.
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss – Now, have I never read this before? (I don’t think I’ve ever seen this film!) Super cute.
• The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet – Such a gorgeous retelling of the famous ballet – and what’s more fitting than reading it after seeing a version of the ballet last week?

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*I received this novel from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review