Books on My Intersectional Feminist TBR Pile and Wishlist

I am a feminist, but I am fully aware of very privileged life I have. There is so much I don't know about the sexism and misogyny experienced by women and non-binary people who are also from marginalised groups. To be a feminist is to fight for and speak up for all women and non-binary people who experience sexism and misogyny, so I need to be an intersectional feminist, but I can't do that if I don't understand the specific experiences that come with being marginalised.

I have read a number of feminist non-fiction books in order to educate myself, but they're all written by privileged women, and will have just a chapter on intersectional feminism, and how sexism can intersect with religion, race, sexuality, gender identity, disability and other marginalisations. Those chapters aren't enough, and I need to educate myself further.

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Discussion: Books that Should Be Compulsory Reading in Schools

YA does a fantastic job of covering and exploring difficult and sensitive topics. There are so many books that are really powerful and incredibly important, to the point where I think they should be compulsory reading in schools. Today, I thought I would discuss with you those YA novels/non-fiction books I believe should be compulsory reading in some capacity, probably in PSHE lessons. Click on the covers to be taken to their page on Goodreads.

Trigger Warning: This discussion will discuss racism, police brutality, rape, rape culture, victim blaming, homophobia, and bisexual erasure.

ETA: Although I gave trigger warnings above, and so understand that a number of these books could be triggering for some people, making some of these books required reading would probably be really harmful to some teens. So instead of making them required reading, I'm now saying these books should be studied in school with teens who feel they would be ok reading them.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas



My review.
The Hate U Give is a really hard hitting books that looks at racism and police brutality. It's such an incredible read. This book isn't only important for the light it shines on police brutality, but also racism in other forms, and just how it affects Black Peoples lives - how racism can leave Black people with very few choices. I really think this book will open the eyes of white people, as well as providing representation to Black girls, which is why I think it should be compulsory reading. It's so important, and think it could change for the future.

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Six for Sunday: Books that Have Been on My TBR Forever

Six For Sunday is a weekly feature run by Steph of A Little But a Lot. You can read all the Six for Sunday prompts for the rest of 2018 here. This week, we're talking about six books that have been sat on our TBR forever.

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (published 5th April 2007)

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.

Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives. From Goodreads.

Why I want to read it: Because it sounds right up my street! How intruging does the sound of fantasy and reality "melding"? I was recommended this by a colleague who thought I would enjoy it.

Why I haven't read it yet: There are a number of small reasoms. I forget I have it a lot of the time. And it's an adult book rather than MG or YA, which makes me slightly wary. And when I do remember I have it, I fancy reading other books more than reading this one. But I really need to get to it at some point.

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Review: Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence (#Ad)

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

I received this eProof for free from HarperVoyager via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

WARNING! I cannot review this book without spoiling the others in the series. Read no further if you're planning on reading this series and don't want it spoilt for you.

In Mystic Class, Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy, Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassins, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.

There will be blood. From Goodreads.

Trigger Warning: This book features violence heavily.

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Once Upon a Retelling: Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

Welcome to Once Upon a Retelling! I'm a huge fan of retellings, and I'm really interested in hearing about authors' own love of the original stories, and what inspired them to retell those stories. And so Once Upon a Retelling was born, a feature in which I interview authors about their versions of well-loved tales.

Today, I'm delighted to have Nadine Brandes stopping by the blog to talk to us about her fantasy retelling of the Gunpowder Plot, Fawkes.

Can you tell us a little about Fawkes? What kind of a retelling of the Gunpowder Plot is it?

Fawkes is a retelling of the Gunpowder Plot—a true event where a group of men decided to smuggle barrels of gunpowder to blow up the king of England. Throw in some fantasy magic, duels, and a main character torn between loyalty and love, and that’s Fawkes. (Mwahaha!) The retelling takes place in the original time period—17th century London—but is told from the POV of Guy Fawkes’s son, Thomas. In real life there are only rumours that Guy had a son so I reimagined the plot to see what it might have been like had his son been involved. (Enter family drama!!)

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Finding Hans Christian Andersen in Denmark

As you know by now, I'm a huge fan of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, so while I was visiting family in Copenhagen, Denmark a couple of weeks ago, I visited as many things related to the author of so many well loved fairy tales as I could.

I went and saw the famous The Little Mermaid statue. It's a bronze statue that was sculpted by Edvard Eriksen, after Carl Jacobsen, brewer at Carlsberg Breweries, saw a ballet performance of The Little Mermaid, and became so enamoured with the ballet, and the ballet dancer who danced the title role, Ellen Prince, that he commisioned a statue to present to Copenhagen. The statue was erected on Langelinie promenade on 23rd August 1913, and is celebrated every year as The Little Mermaid's birthday.

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Review: Grace & Fury by Tracy Banghart (#Ad)

Grace & Fury by Tracy Banghart

I received this eProof for free from Hodder Children's Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

Bold, brutal and beautiful, this is a must-read with the glitter and romance of The Selection and the thrilling action and intrigue of Red Queen.

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other on an island prison where women must fight to survive.

Serina has spent her whole life preparing to become a Grace - selected to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining example of the perfect woman.

But her headstrong and rebellious younger sister has a dangerous secret, and one wrong move could cost both sisters everything.

Can Serina fight? And will Nomi win? From Goodreads.

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Review: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley (eProof) - This is a love story. It's the story of a second-hand bookshop called Howling Books where people leave letters to strangers, or those they love, or want to love, between the pages of books in the Letter Library.

Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie are best friends. Or they were. Before Rachel moved away to the sea. Now, she's back, grieving for her brother Cal who drowned in the sea that he loved.

Rachel loves Henry. Henry loves Amy. Amy loves Amy but is happy for Henry to love her too.

This is a book about books. About the power of literature to cradle our past, present and future selves. It's about how we leave ourselves behind when we die. How we leave our histories in the things we love - like books. From Goodreads.

I received this eProof for free from Hodder Children's Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

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Blog Tour: Show Stealer by Hayley Barker - The Importance of Literature to Me

I'm excited to have Hayley Barker stopping by the blog today for my stop on the blog tour for her novel Show Stealer, the sequel to her debut novel, Show Stopper. Hayley is here to talk about how important books have been to her throughout her life.

The Importance of Literature to Me

If I had to list all of the most important influences in my life, all of the experiences, places and people who have shaped me and turned me into the person I am today, literature would be right up there in the top three, maybe even at the very top.

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Discussion: My Favourite Urban Fantasy Series

Until last year, I only thought there were two reactions to hype; where you think a book deserved the hype because you loved it so much, or where you think it didn't because you hated it. But then I discovered a third. One that I can only describe as a mix of disappointment and confusion. Not because a book was bad, but because I've read better.

I experienced feelings of disappointment, because although the books were good, as I've read better, I'm not sure they deserve all the hype they received, and also confusion because, why aren't the other books hyped? Why this one over them?

The books in question are The Monsters of Verity duology - This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet by V. E. Schwab. I really enjoyed them! They were exciting and dark, they dealt with moral questions, there was so much action and violence, and Schwab didn't shy away from hurting her characters. But I've also read books that were more exciting, that had more action and violence, where I actually cared more about the characters. And yet I'm not sure I know anyone who has read some of  - though not all, as you will see - the books I'm thinking of.

Perhaps most people just haven't read much urban fantasy? I consider The Monsters of Verity duology to be urban fantasy, even if they're set in a future American territory. So yeah, maybe readers haven't read many books in the same genre. On the off chance that that's the case, I thought I would recommend some of my favourites. I could recommend so many, and readers are in for such a treat - though they are, for the most part, adult.

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Review: Bookshop Girl by Chloe Coles

Bookshop Girl by Chloe Coles (eProof) - Bennett's Bookshop has always been a haven for sixteen-year-old Paige Turner. It's a place where she can escape from her sleepy hometown, hang out with her best friend, Holly, and also earn some money.

But, like so many bookshops, Bennett's has become a 'casualty of the high street' - it's strapped for cash and going to be torn down. Paige is determined to save it but mobilising a small town like Greysworth is no mean feat.

Time is ticking - but that's not the only problem Paige has. How is she going to fend off the attractions of beautiful fellow artist, Blaine? And, more importantly, will his anarchist ways make or break her bookshop campaign? From Goodreads.

I received this eProof for free from Hot Key Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

Trigger Warning: This book features ableist language, and a joke about wanting to die by suicide after an embarrassing moment.

Disclaimer: Chloe Coles is my friend and colleague. However, this review is my honest opinion of Bookshop Girl.

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Review: Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning (eProof) - Everyone knows what happens in the end.
A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss.
But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends.
One feared, one royal, and one already dead.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.

A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.

But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.

The rise of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic villainess is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, and a girl pushed beyond her limits—to become a monster. From Goodreads.

I received this eProof for free from HarperCollin's Children's Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

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Discussion: How My Imagination Takes Over When I Read

Today, I thought I'd talk about the way I read. Back before I fell in love with reading, it was such a chore. I hated it. Words on a page that go on and on and on. It was so boring. I couldn't understand why anyone enjoyed it. Why would you put yourself through all those words for hours on end?

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Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews (eProof) - An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.

Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.

When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it? From Goodreads.

I received this eProof for free from Orchard Books via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.

Trigger Warning: This book features child abuse - violence and emotional abuse.

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