tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31850827005592432532024-03-12T18:11:47.591-07:00A Girl with a BookPart-time editor and full-time language lover. I review books. A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-78026601618557644352024-02-15T07:59:00.000-08:002024-02-15T07:59:53.879-08:00Review: Ericas of the Fynbos by John Manning and Nick Helme<p> </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-978e748d-7fff-29cc-dbc5-fca83451f03d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4auAhWvFwSWYt-ng2UMrT8_2RQIURc1ZiNnfYOdvIDcoNVGGPu26c7WPp0H_aHOU4p3MbX65WnX7eeREHJr4L3sOueCbPE05Z3QFnYj1aNZ23nOd6w0BrIuDopUh3WlhyphenhyphencpoUFK-M7JL-F_nXfJF4wR1GgceG0LS6tDmPSkQn7yKKZOQ1O1qSHmnThYY/s1124/thumbnail_IMG_7702.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1124" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4auAhWvFwSWYt-ng2UMrT8_2RQIURc1ZiNnfYOdvIDcoNVGGPu26c7WPp0H_aHOU4p3MbX65WnX7eeREHJr4L3sOueCbPE05Z3QFnYj1aNZ23nOd6w0BrIuDopUh3WlhyphenhyphencpoUFK-M7JL-F_nXfJF4wR1GgceG0LS6tDmPSkQn7yKKZOQ1O1qSHmnThYY/w214-h213/thumbnail_IMG_7702.png" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rating:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A must-have for Fynbos lovers </span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is it?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A field guide</span></span></li><li style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ideal for fans of:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2018/07/review-field-guide-to-fynbos-by-john.html" target="_blank">Field Guide to Fynbos by John Manning</a>, Field Guide to Succulents in Southern Africa by Sith, Crouch and Figuerido</span></span></li><li style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What makes it special?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The attention to detail, and flowering times are highlighted </span></span></li><li style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get it in South Africa from:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Struike Nature</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p> Ericas are one of the true gems of the Fynbos flora, yet they’re notoriously difficult to identify. Of the over 700 different species of this plant, many of them look eerily similar. <br /><br />Well, not any more. John Manning and Nick Helme have solved the quandary of Erica identification. <i>Ericas of the Fynbos</i> is an easy-to-use guide to these glorious plants. After a comprehensive introduction covering Erica phenology, pollination, adaptive traits, and where to locate these plants, the 180 most common species are identified.<br /><br />The different species are grouped, rather ingeniously, into five categories, based on the shape of their flowers. These are the elongated sunbird heaths. The bulbous vase heaths, small flower heaths, the adorable stoppered heaths (my personal favourite), and minor heaths. Thereafter, the various kinds of Ericas are narrowed down by the many defining features of each flower type. For example, whether they are velvety, have tassels, or the pattern in which the flowers cluster on a stalk. As an added bonus,endangered species are highlighted, so if you come across these, not only are you lucky, but you’re reminded that these are not for picking. PLEASE don't pick them. <br /><br />From there, identification is a breeze, as you simply search for an image that best suits your specimen. To make it even easier, each entry features the geographic region in which the plant thrives, the months in which it flowers, and the average size of each bloom. <br /><br />The photographs of each flower and plant are crisp close-ups, allowing you to see each hair or leaf on a plant to ensure you can accurately identify them. <br /><br />And what a riot of colour! Who knew that there were so many different colours of Ericas (apart from the authors, and now, the lucky owners of this book). My ignorance of Ericas was further highlighted when I realised that what I’d mistakenly thought of as one very prolific pink Erica in our nearby mountains was actually a mix of ELEVEN different plants. Reader, I am humbled. <br /><br />As a lover of plants, and botanical graduate, this book takes pride of place in my reference library. As a compact soft-covered book, it fits perfectly into a backpack, and I dare you not to take it with you whenever you’re among the plants. <br /><br /><b><i>Ericas of the Fynbos by John Manning and Nick Helme is published by Struike Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.</i></b><br /><br /></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-60570702270889002232023-11-23T23:11:00.000-08:002023-11-23T23:11:45.767-08:00Review: The Year Of The Locust by Terry Hayes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgVgp2AdVSzePtb5YrpEHcNPvMN1JpImxcJ3Jo56Gnb5VL4KdnkRXhYxya0_M5sC2AcFz5z5YGuohyphenhyphen0zCb_dIw7BLCRw8gSOWwnsPE9SL8I7wg5N_PN6rgl3SR4Y4sMP-Ldwtfh8GSslaMOIs7O0Vv-eSba1tX6MFk8IJtTPJvCD4FTrQMVGCRrKg9rc/s1128/thumbnail_Screenshot%202023-11-24%20at%2009.07.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1121" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgVgp2AdVSzePtb5YrpEHcNPvMN1JpImxcJ3Jo56Gnb5VL4KdnkRXhYxya0_M5sC2AcFz5z5YGuohyphenhyphen0zCb_dIw7BLCRw8gSOWwnsPE9SL8I7wg5N_PN6rgl3SR4Y4sMP-Ldwtfh8GSslaMOIs7O0Vv-eSba1tX6MFk8IJtTPJvCD4FTrQMVGCRrKg9rc/w246-h248/thumbnail_Screenshot%202023-11-24%20at%2009.07.00.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4457e6a3-7fff-d424-66ab-0f53acee7dec" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rating:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> An excellent start but the twist might be too niche for some readers </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is it?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fiction</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ideal for fans of:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Martian by Andy Weir, <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-institute-by-stephen-king.html" target="_blank">The Institute by Stephen King</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What makes it special?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The attention to detail, and the fulfillment of a long wait for fans of Hayes’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am Pilgrim</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get it in South Africa from:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Penguin Random House South Africa</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ridley works for the CIA, but he’s not your average spy. He’s a Denied Access Area spy, which means he’s been to and worked in some of the deadliest locations and the world. All in secret, of course. Naturally, Ridley has to hide his work from the world, including his partner Rebecca. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, that becomes increasingly difficult when he’s tasked with the seemingly impossible - tracking down a terrorist that the world - thanks to the Pentagon - believes to be dead. But as Ridley soon discovers, not only is the man very much alive, he poses a massive threat not just to the USA, but to the entire world. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers of Terry Hayes’ first novel, I am Pilgrim, will be aware of the author’s attention to detail and ability to make a spy novel not just riveting, but sexy. And The Year Of The Locust is no different. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hayes builds a world in which espionage, technology, action, romance, intrigue, and politics merge seamlessly into a brilliant narrative. Hayes’ character building is especially impressive - none of his cast, from spymaster extraordinaire Ridley, to his partner Rebecca, the head of the CIA, or the most notorious terrorist the world has ever seen, could be called conventional or flat. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moreover, the author’s ability to launch into nail-biting, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat with bated breath action scenes is just *chef’s kiss*. I am quite sure I’ve never held my breath or gotten goosebumps as many times in 469 pages. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eagle-eyes readers might be wondering at that low page count. After all, The Year Of The Locust is an impressive 663 pages - a real brick of a book. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, it feels more like two books. The fourth and final part of the book takes a totally unexpected twist that drives the narrative into an entirely new field. This sudden segue is as jarring as it is unexpected. Without giving it away, this change goes beyond affecting the narrative, it takes the book into an entirely new genre. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have no doubt there will be millions of fans who adore the incorporation of something new and unexpected, but I am not entirely sure it works. As any writer will know, merging genres is not a task to be undertaken lightly, yet kudos to Hayes for trying, and for taking his story to the next level. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All in all, The Year Of The Locust is an action-packed adventure from the first sentence, and remains one of the greatest spy novels you’ll ever read. In fact, I have no doubt the likes of Netflix or a Hollywood studio will snap it up to make their next feature film. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Year Of The Locust by Terry Hayes is published by Bantam, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, and a Penguin Random House company.</span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><br />A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-11316439998230522342023-11-03T01:53:00.004-07:002023-11-03T01:53:50.456-07:00Review: Southern African Moths & Their Caterpillars by Staude, Picker & Griffiths<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRzQmdCFJEG0Ar3ntFRvD4xcJJZrXDY2Dj2Lr4DVtnS_GyL2SnwBLTYSvh5HXh4dmV_KFT0ErmcHTd3RJmrlT7ys6JqvEEkW4o3e6JdL5S5e8xAg7JFjfpV-dURCv_lErViBk3goJKrbZK8xYleoNCDnLl4F4Im3w7rqK6uIThPRgpkBZ3qU_4zmDjq8/s1125/thumbnail_IMG_6263.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1124" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRzQmdCFJEG0Ar3ntFRvD4xcJJZrXDY2Dj2Lr4DVtnS_GyL2SnwBLTYSvh5HXh4dmV_KFT0ErmcHTd3RJmrlT7ys6JqvEEkW4o3e6JdL5S5e8xAg7JFjfpV-dURCv_lErViBk3goJKrbZK8xYleoNCDnLl4F4Im3w7rqK6uIThPRgpkBZ3qU_4zmDjq8/w253-h253/thumbnail_IMG_6263.png" width="253" /></a></div><br />Rating:<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> A nature-lover’s bookshelf essential </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Field guide </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ideal for fans of:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-field-guide-to-spiders-of-south.html" target="_blank">Field Guide To Spiders</a>, <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2022/12/review-illustrated-guide-to-medicinal.html" target="_blank">Medicinal Plants of East Africa</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What makes it special?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Comprehensive guide to all life stages of the insects</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Get it in South Africa from:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Struik Nature (Penguin Random House South Africa) </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-19eff4d1-7fff-e8e2-04eb-128d608a7295"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Have you ever found yourself trying to identify a caterpillar and failing? After all, it is surprisingly easy to mistake a moth caterpillar for that of a butterfly. Well, it used to be. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Southern African Moths & Their Caterpillars</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, you have access to 1500 moth species, making misidentification almost impossible. You see, not only does this guide provide clues to these insects’ geographical locations and preferred habitats, but it gives a comprehensive overview of the family, species, size. The best part? Every entry is accompanied by a series of glorious, high-definition colour images of all stages of the life cycle. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a nutshell, this means you can now identify a moth based on where you found it, the appearance of the pupa or caterpillar, or by looking at the adult moth itself. Genius, right? Staude, Picker & Griffiths have totally eliminated the guesswork in moth identification, and they have made it fun. Then again, that’s hardly surprising given the impressive list of qualifications and years of experience behind their names.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So how do you start your identification journey, especially if you know next to nothing about these winged and many-legged creatures? Easy. The entries are organised by family, with a brief description of the most noticeable shared features. So if you spot a moth that’s really small, with spiny legs and narrow yet long wings, you’d start with the Plume moths (family </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pterophoridae</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">). If you see a caterpillar with a horn-like protrusion on its rear, you’re likely looking at a hawkmoth. Interestingly, these little guys are huge fans of grape vines, so if you happen to see a fat, green, horned caterpillar wiggling about among your grapes (as I have in my garden), that’s your most likely culprit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Southern African Moths & Their Caterpillars</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is not just a way to identify moths. It provides additional information on moths in general, from their genetic evolution and their importance as pollinators to their unique means of protecting themselves as caterpillars and adults. In short, it’s the go-to compendium for anything to do with moths in Southern Africa. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Southern African Moths & Their Caterpillars by Hermann Staude, Mike Picker & Charles Griffiths is published by Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.</span></p><br /></span>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-35987378848367548362023-10-16T07:08:00.004-07:002023-10-16T07:08:44.266-07:00Review: Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTf8DTxwe9d9PTI1vvu2qiwlqIy16VISNdyqmv_jUdRo5jPEWDMWuR7KnZddtcqz-XYqoo49BM7Fg8LxRgLX4pcs8rT_QSwxxE3YgroW3jAsqIUxTI25Dy1qcQpvVsYnJbwuqnCk2J1WxbO9z6_YLIsRm4oAAMlBxEZAqBDDmFLdLJp2cIPkcXe-w6U/s1532/thumbnail_IMG_5452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTf8DTxwe9d9PTI1vvu2qiwlqIy16VISNdyqmv_jUdRo5jPEWDMWuR7KnZddtcqz-XYqoo49BM7Fg8LxRgLX4pcs8rT_QSwxxE3YgroW3jAsqIUxTI25Dy1qcQpvVsYnJbwuqnCk2J1WxbO9z6_YLIsRm4oAAMlBxEZAqBDDmFLdLJp2cIPkcXe-w6U/s320/thumbnail_IMG_5452.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />Rating:<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Genre fans will lose their minds </span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-38e5adaa-7fff-0068-0fef-59b3d3d4212b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is it?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Fiction </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ideal for fans of:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-once-there-was-by-kiyash-monsef.html" target="_blank">Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef</a>; <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2021/03/review-david-mogo-godhunter-by-suyi.html" target="_blank">David Mogo: Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa</a>.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What makes it special?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> It puts a whole new spin on mythology, and good vs evil</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Get it in South Africa from:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Pan Macmillan South Africa </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Viola has a problem. It's not that she is a vampire who takes the form of a cat. It's actually work-related. Viola's trying to make a name for herself in real estate, but no one is interested in her newest property, as it's haunted by the ghost of the former owner. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Luckily, with a network of demon friends, Vi comes up with a plan: hire a medium to exorcise the ghost. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Enter Fox D'Mora. A surprisingly successful medium with a dark secret. He communes with the dead via an unexpected middleman - Death himself. You see, through a series of rather strange events, Death was named Fox's godfather, and ever since, he's been begrudgingly helping his mortal charge. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But when Fox tries to enlist Death's help for Viola's haunted house, he discovers another problem. Death isn't answering. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So what happens when Death goes missing from his post? All hell breaks loose, somewhat literally, as competitors vie for his throne, and the power that comes with being the master of Death. Unless, that is, Fox can save him.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, this book will be the brightest gem in your collection. We’ve got gods, demigods, angels, demons, creatures, cryptids, shapeshifters, and then some (cough cough, Santa Claus). There’s also romance, intrigue, drama, humour and death - so much death. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What may initially seem an overemphasis on the mythological and supernatural is in fact a clever device to illustrate the complexities of our own mortality; of love, loss, and longing. Blake essentially reminds us that virtue and vice don’t need wings or horns to exist. And yet, with a good sprinkling of humour, romance, and some well-choses cusses, Blake does not allow the narrative to become too heavy or depressing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Masters Of Death</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is as inventive as it is enjoyable, reminding us to embrace our humanity and we yearn for more. And all that leads us to the ultimate question: what would you give up to master Death?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan MacMillan,</span></p><br /></span>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-40876551124909117082023-09-26T03:48:00.002-07:002023-09-26T06:33:01.974-07:00 Review: Field Guide To The Spiders Of South Africa by Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWf36lWgQabuBU6I-bBUdwJDLg-SyC2RrlqLcYV0_98R9_RKi65NzhNPD8sOTuRRSnIM8u2D0VdYzwjtzOs90_0Vlzj7BOuOXHR3GWicIFp0GpoSHUwMRol_L80dv3FJDZ8nvpWHIQsEVkt-w1RS85bosGmXYLhqsGgeVbRCKUV2t9j1PA5DPYvckcVA/s1441/thumbnail_IMG_5669.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1125" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWf36lWgQabuBU6I-bBUdwJDLg-SyC2RrlqLcYV0_98R9_RKi65NzhNPD8sOTuRRSnIM8u2D0VdYzwjtzOs90_0Vlzj7BOuOXHR3GWicIFp0GpoSHUwMRol_L80dv3FJDZ8nvpWHIQsEVkt-w1RS85bosGmXYLhqsGgeVbRCKUV2t9j1PA5DPYvckcVA/w221-h283/thumbnail_IMG_5669.png" width="221" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rating:</b> Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is it?</b> Reference (field guide)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ideal for fans of:</b> <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2022/11/review-complete-guide-to-snakes-of.html" target="_blank">A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, by Johan Marais</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What makes it special?</b> It demystifies and de-scarifies spiders </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get it in South Africa from</b>: Struik Nature (Penguin Random House South Africa)</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We all know someone who will scream, cry or exclaim loudly when faced with spiders. Often, it's followed by the "ewwwwww, spiders!" dance, complete with nose crinkling and head shaking. </p><p>But not any more.</p><p>Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman and Struik Nature are changing all that. Field Guide To The Spiders Of South Africa will actually make you fall in love with spiders. </p><p>First, you'll start with identification. This guide features a mind-boggling 780 different species of spiders which are all home to the south of sunny South Africa. Once you've identified your new eight-legged friend, you can learn everything about it. And I mean everything. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Spider morphology, habitats, mating, common geographic locations, and whether or not they're endangered</li><li>Info on webs - their shapes, how they're built, and why spider silk is freaking amazing </li><li>How to capture them safely </li><li>As a bonus, there's also an entire section dedicated to venom (and most importantly, how to treat any bites you might get). </li></ul><p></p><p>Of course, all of this information is accompanied by stunning photographs and illustrations that allow you to see all distinguishing features. Moreover, it's vital to add this; the spiders have been styled to look kinda cute. I mean it - this isn't a book of horrors featuring fangs and legs and things being killed in webs. Instead, it's an attempt to make these many-legged friends less intimidating. </p><p>And that's so important, because spiders have several really important roles in nature, too. And you'll discover what those are when you read through this guide (no spoilers here!).</p><p>So even if you think you're afraid of spiders, this is a book to consider getting. Not least because you could learn how to avoid them, but because it opens up a whole new world for nature lovers. </p><p>So go on, go on a walk and discover some spiders. Just take your <i>Field Guide To The Spiders Of South Africa</i> with you. </p><p><b><i>Field Guide To The Spiders Of South Africa</i> by Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman is published by Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.</b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-22931799559412846412023-07-24T03:50:00.002-07:002023-07-24T03:50:28.124-07:00Review: All That’s Left To Say by Emery Lord<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrJja9hE36jQdVVw-VfxHYJdrnKfBcY6jYYCea8_C6dLOA5k-7YbOc1dhdTbJ5ym3tC45Gs5mjlEJh86Ih6lPt0eNiBdMJcAni27GFsIIYIJjZEa9ITq3kSyCfSTJb4jYkjeDFv-y8aqWFV_M_NKvay-7346oBU7DrshJzQVWu30CbKU21ottB_IJO1s/s1920/thumbnail_E0D53F98-F5B3-4D8B-8ABE-EDE378C14D0E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrJja9hE36jQdVVw-VfxHYJdrnKfBcY6jYYCea8_C6dLOA5k-7YbOc1dhdTbJ5ym3tC45Gs5mjlEJh86Ih6lPt0eNiBdMJcAni27GFsIIYIJjZEa9ITq3kSyCfSTJb4jYkjeDFv-y8aqWFV_M_NKvay-7346oBU7DrshJzQVWu30CbKU21ottB_IJO1s/w269-h269/thumbnail_E0D53F98-F5B3-4D8B-8ABE-EDE378C14D0E.jpg" width="269" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="color: white;">Rating</span></b><span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Stop what you’re doing and buy it ASAP</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A teenage whodunnit </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ideal for fans of: </span></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nancy Drew, <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2021/07/review-watch-her-fall-by-erin-kelly.html" target="_blank">Watch Her Fall </a></span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2021/07/review-watch-her-fall-by-erin-kelly.html" target="_blank">by</a><i><a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2021/07/review-watch-her-fall-by-erin-kelly.html" target="_blank"> Erin
Kelly</a> </i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A balance of carefully crafted gut-punching emotion, and a regular ol’
detective story </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Get it in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Jonathan Ball Publishers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">For Hannah, Sophie was more than a cousin. She was a best friend, a
sister, a soul mate. The girls grew up together, shared everything, and saw each
other as two halves of the same equation. There were no secrets between them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Or so Hannah thought. Because what started as a regular Saturday ended
in a hellish nightmare. Sophie, dead at a party. Sophie, dead by overdose.
Sophie, dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Hannah cannot accept that her hard-working, chipper cousin, with a love
of the environment and a contagious laugh, would ever be involved in drugs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">For months, Hannah drifts though life in a grey daze, trying to come to
terms with the tragedy. She is convinced that Sophie was set up, drugged, or
even worse. And she is determined to prove it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">But that means she needs to start telling lies of her own, as she changes
her look and her school to covertly investigate, and discover what really
happened to Sophie. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">All That’s Left To Say</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> is
nothing short of a masterpiece. While the idea of a mourning teenager running around
solving a case may seem far-fetched and warrant an eye roll, Emery Lord has created
the perfect teen detective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Hannah is smart, she’s strong, and she’s hurting so much. Her grief,
fury and helplessness, apart from being palpable to the reader, fuel her in her
search for the truth. Emery Lord has managed to provide a book shouldering a
boat-load of grief, but rather than a depressing ‘woe is me’ tale, it’s
refreshing, deeply addictive, and impossible to put down. The characters are easy
to love, and some easy to hate, and the plot is as twisted and rewarding as anything
I’ve read in ages. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">There’s a dash of romance, a horde of wholesome families, and even
humour. In short, <i>All That’s Left To Say </i>is just *French chef's kiss*. I
dare you not to finish this book in one sitting, as you wade between tears and
triumph. What an adventure!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">All That’s Left To Say by
Emery Lord is published by Bloomsbury, and is available in South Africa from
Jonathan Ball Publishers.</span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-10843570468630778182023-06-10T02:27:00.003-07:002023-06-11T00:50:02.393-07:00Review: Indoor Jungle Guide by Saffron de la Rouviere<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZSYPhrKmSWMm8Ws9hk_TkaZm4Ck9ENlMzkSHC4B-niX8MplPh2kBNCGquZJ8XBM9TDcWZSCaRjqbljFvssuUmzP1t91DdtTC7r2CRcsuwWWPM_EtmWTTTycuY7rizH9KKsj-_4HS0hBQI9kVkO6tJhhs0cmAcJhzBgmSRtsPmg8LPQFx18IrzXtV/s1279/jungle.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1279" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZSYPhrKmSWMm8Ws9hk_TkaZm4Ck9ENlMzkSHC4B-niX8MplPh2kBNCGquZJ8XBM9TDcWZSCaRjqbljFvssuUmzP1t91DdtTC7r2CRcsuwWWPM_EtmWTTTycuY7rizH9KKsj-_4HS0hBQI9kVkO6tJhhs0cmAcJhzBgmSRtsPmg8LPQFx18IrzXtV/w360-h197/jungle.png" width="360" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">Rating</span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">: Do it ASAP – a learning essential!</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">What is it? </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">An online course all about indoor plants </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ideal for: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">Plant parents, botanists, plant lovers</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">What makes it special?</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"> It’s local and <b><i>incredibly </i></b>informative </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">Get it in South Africa from</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;">: Udemy</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Today, I'm </span><i style="color: white;">branching out</i><span style="color: white;"> and reviewing something a little different - the </span><a href="https://www.udemy.com/share/108PRe3@exwsnVnGBBJFkwFW1WPR-4999ATJqYmQCAM8NWmxjxa3PG6PD0Xo162IYQR5ZLBp0g==/ " target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Indoor Jungle Guide</span></a><span style="color: white;">. If you don't know, in additional to being bibliophile, I am also a qualified botanist and plant freak - which means that this short course was balm to my nerdy, plant-loving soul. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">Saffron de la Rouviere is something of a celeb in the South African plant world - she's the unofficial queen of indoor plants. Not only is she always willing to help out, meet and inspire plant parents, but she's also responsible for one of my favourite subscription services - the </span><a href="https://shop.saffronsgarden.com/plant-club-subscriptions/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Saffron's Garden Plant Club</span></a><span style="color: white;">, in which you get monthly plant babies and related goodies at a seriously reasonable price. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">But back to the Indoor Jungle Guide. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">Saffron has combined her own knowledge and experience with some extra help from the pros (read: horticulturalists, botanists and even plant sellers) to bring you the ultimate guide to indoor plants. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In just one hour, you can become a plant pro. Seriously. This might not sound like enough time, but this guide packs a punch, and will fill your brain faster than your </span>watering<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> can fills those pots with water. </span></span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />Here's what you'll learn:<br /></span></span><br /></span></p><ul><li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: white;">The history of indoor plants (and how their story has <i>roots</i> in the world's oldest eco system, the jungle).</span></span></li><li><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: white;">How to look after your plants (with emphasis on light, water, soil, fertiliser, and humidity - and let me tell you, there's no shortage of info here. I may have a degree in plant science, but even I gathered a <i>bouquet</i> of new tips and tricks)</span></li><li><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: white;">How to identify and deal with those awful pests and diseases that won't leaf your plants alone)</span></li><li><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: white;">How to make more plants through the magic of propagation. </span></li></ul><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: white;">And as they say in the old infomercials, 'BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE'.<br /><br />The Indoor Jungle Guide also has a few quick quizzes to test your skills, and is set up in such a way that it is interactive, calming and fun. With subtle humour, gorgeous visuals, and Saffron's wealth of knowledge, this is the best place to start on your plant journey, and also a great refresher for anyone who's already up to their elbows in potting soil and cuttings. <br /><br />So do yourself, your plants, and mother nature herself a favour, and sign up to this course. And when you're done, consider signing up for Saffron's subscription, so that you always have access to new plants and new info. <br /><br />Happy gardening, all!</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-37870527883792703082023-05-23T03:05:00.004-07:002023-05-23T03:05:33.761-07:00Review: Silver In The Bone by Alexandra Bracken<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK_6_kwA2QiWy0WwZ6hyXmTTtSv4h5RjD0HQagC5N6C89ONEbQwipDAUZkeJWoyue2oy_DbREpoUntSesIFaO_OoXZRPi4EbRJih-LWWfjFZEsuzuLRdOvbqqug8HHIpqXpU3ieo8gAQ4ZO0evyvfHFSXvlX-cLUsi3_THZdtIgxQ1Zit8yDCbivR/s2057/76487727-C39B-48FB-94D1-3866044CF111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="2057" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK_6_kwA2QiWy0WwZ6hyXmTTtSv4h5RjD0HQagC5N6C89ONEbQwipDAUZkeJWoyue2oy_DbREpoUntSesIFaO_OoXZRPi4EbRJih-LWWfjFZEsuzuLRdOvbqqug8HHIpqXpU3ieo8gAQ4ZO0evyvfHFSXvlX-cLUsi3_THZdtIgxQ1Zit8yDCbivR/w291-h291/76487727-C39B-48FB-94D1-3866044CF111.JPG" width="291" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fantastic fiction </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ideal for fans of: </span></b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2021/03/review-cursed-by-thomas-wheeler-and.html">Cursed</a></span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, The <i><a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2019/09/review-darkest-legacy-by-alexandra.html">Darkest Minds</a></i>
series</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Dashes of well-known myth a bit of magical realism, and a strong female
protagonist</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Get it in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Jonathan Ball Publishers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Tamsin Lark isn’t your average teenager. It’s not because she doesn’t know
her parents, or that she and her brother Cabell have been under the
guardianship of a man with a bad reputation and a habit of robbing graves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Instead, it’s because she’s a Hollower. But unlike the other people in
her world, Tamsin lacks the One Vision. She can’t see the traces of magic everywhere
around her. And she’s ok with that. Because she has her brother and his curse
to worry about.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Yes, I forgot to mention that what makes Tamsin extra special, is that
her brother is cursed to turn into a hound, and she desperately wants to find a
cure. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Which is how she ends up involved in a dangerous adventure under the
patronage of a sorceress – to retrieve a piece of treasure that once belonged
to King Arthur himself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Only, Tamsin soon learns that there’s more danger, intrigue, and secrets
surrounding this quest than she could have guessed. And obviously, her life
will never be the same. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Silver In The Bone</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> immediately
launches into action from the first word, and doesn’t let the reader go until
the last page. With gorgeous imagery, poetic prose, and a mind-blowing marriage
of myth and reality, this book is almost perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">I say almost, because its author has committed what I consider a heinous
crime – ended our time with Tamsin on a sinister cliff hanger that will make
you desperate for the next book, only you can’t get it yet. That’s cruel,
Alexandra. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Fangirl grumping aside, this book was superb. It struck the perfect
balance between sinister magic and otherworldly adventure, with romance,
friendship, regret, and even more magic. On top of that, we get a totally fresh
perspective of the Arthurian tale – not a retelling, but a glorious add on that
makes both stories seem fuller. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Silver In The Bone</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> is
engaging, action-packed, fun, and original. I can’t wait for the rest of Tamsin’s
story, and to find out what happens next. And nor will you. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Silver In The Bone by
Alexandra Bracken is published by Quercus, a division of Hodder &
Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></i></b> </p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-75697644362584018292023-05-15T04:37:00.003-07:002023-05-17T05:39:59.082-07:00Review: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef <p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46VDlAniigTJc4QeTW4RrY2xE5rZsLokWjFOeYFN1bdMhBuEw-BrIecdmxzSYALL55kdR73NzY8rcsUNyQodvFzIjTjQfMZlxxIUN6hjKHtuTelamYj33S3xJ9zBRR1nJyo87SZpZKEsV2Ppi8tjnzvGz9Cns8jxiHG9Gl4lz0lJF_xnVEMAIbvYV/s1280/thumbnail_B37ACED6-022B-4B43-A7F7-EEB063D2504B.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46VDlAniigTJc4QeTW4RrY2xE5rZsLokWjFOeYFN1bdMhBuEw-BrIecdmxzSYALL55kdR73NzY8rcsUNyQodvFzIjTjQfMZlxxIUN6hjKHtuTelamYj33S3xJ9zBRR1nJyo87SZpZKEsV2Ppi8tjnzvGz9Cns8jxiHG9Gl4lz0lJF_xnVEMAIbvYV/w290-h290/thumbnail_B37ACED6-022B-4B43-A7F7-EEB063D2504B.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><b>Rating</b>: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential<p></p><p><b>What is it</b>? Magical fiction </p><p><b>Ideal for fans of</b>: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2019/07/review-pans-labyrinth-by-guileermo-del.html" target="_blank">Pan's Labyrinth</a></p><p><b>What makes it special</b>? A strong female protagonist, and a horde of mythical creatures</p><p><b>Get it in South Africa from</b>: Jonathan Ball Publishers </p><p>Marjan’s world has just been turned on her head. Although she’s just a high schooler, she’s suddenly the owner of a veterinary practice, and an orphan. Because just a few weeks ago, Marjan’s father and the original practice owner was murdered. </p><p>And no one has any idea who the killer can be. </p><p>Of course, Marjan is used to being on her own anyway, as her dad frequently had to travel all over to help people with their pets. Just like a normal vet, right?</p><p>Right?</p><p>Wrong. </p><p>Because Marjan soon finds out that there was more to her dad than she ever realised, and that the fairy tales she grew up listening to were more real than she ever realised. Now that her dad is gone, it’s up to Marjan to continue his work while trying to come to grips with the world of magic, mythical creatures, and betrayal. </p><p>As an adult, I was enthralled by this YA beauty. But can I be honest? If I was a teenager, I would be obsessed, because <i>Once There Was</i> has all the ingredients of a superb story that can live on for generations. </p><p><i>A hidden world of magic and mystery? </i>Check. </p><p><i>A strong female lead who doesn’t get distracted by silly boys or her image?</i> Check </p><p><i>A dash of romance that doesn’t steal the show?</i> Check.</p><p><i>A thrilling plot and loveable characters? C</i>heck. </p><p><i>Magic, myth, and legend? </i>Double check.</p><p>To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if <i>Once There Was</i> becomes the Harry Potter of its age, albeit for a slightly older audience, and a more female one at that. Kiyash Monsef has added a fresh take on the trope of orphan navigating a secret world, and made it more relatable, more mature, and infinitely more interesting. She’s also taken elevated the literary teen from love interest and bystander to powerhouse and protagonist, and what’s not to love about that? </p><p>I certainly hope there will be a sequel, because I suspect Marjan has great things ahead of her, and I can’t wait for the next adventure.</p><p><b><i>Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef is published by Simon & Schuster, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.</i></b></p><p><br /></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-16551994918517909432023-04-17T00:02:00.004-07:002023-04-17T00:02:42.252-07:00Review: How To Calm Your Mind By Chris Bailey <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.84px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6dXlSgcKnDvspI8qgdrRY8ODgrUiHfFPdmBFvZ9rb8xO8ho5aZwQ2D8tlM8TLrY5CDK132bLQnwks_OwNjftF8mi19FoA-F19xoSQK6hLSoNm4ycGetJ3abWuN3FNdQpt7n3f2aUMEnbkIYjjo0KMmpQyXmsgwmMntogGhXI6PlZ8RUppCXeY575/s573/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="547" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6dXlSgcKnDvspI8qgdrRY8ODgrUiHfFPdmBFvZ9rb8xO8ho5aZwQ2D8tlM8TLrY5CDK132bLQnwks_OwNjftF8mi19FoA-F19xoSQK6hLSoNm4ycGetJ3abWuN3FNdQpt7n3f2aUMEnbkIYjjo0KMmpQyXmsgwmMntogGhXI6PlZ8RUppCXeY575/w230-h241/Untitled.jpg" width="230" /></a></b></div><b><br />Rating</b>: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential<p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.84px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What is it? </b>Self help, backed by science</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.84px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Ideal for fans of: </b>New Scientist and Ed Yong</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.84px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What makes it special? </b>It offers solutions to the problems it presents </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15.84px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Get it in South Africa from: </b>Pan Macmillan South Africa</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have you
ever looked at a book and just known that it was written specifically for you?
That’s exactly how I felt when I spied Chris Bailey’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How To Calm Your Mind</i>. TED (of TEDTalks) described Bailey as ‘The
most productive man you’ll ever hope to meet.’ Literally – it’s on the cover.
And yet there was a scoffing voice in my head that said ‘Pah, I bet I could rival
him for that title.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You see, I
am addicted to busyness. To productivity. To getting things done. For years, I’ve
had people asking me ‘how do you do it all? Where do you get the energy? How
are you so disciplined?’. Well, dear reader, it turns out I’m just addicted to getting
ish done. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And that
may look very cool from an outsider’s perspective, but shall I let you in on a
secret that Bailey is also desperately trying to share? It’s not necessarily a
good thing. Because if, like me, you can’t switch off, you’re heading for
burnout and disaster. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But enough
about me. If you felt like you could see yourself in my waffling above, you
need to read this book. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re so anxious no matter
what you try to counteract it, you need to read this book. If you want to find
out why you have that constant niggling feeling of something missing, of guilt,
of needing to do something, you need to read this book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Screw it,
let me be more clear. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Everyone</b> needs
to read this book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bailey has
presented a thoroughly well-researched, humorous and easy to read book that
really will improve your life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First, he starts
by defining stress or anxiety, and defining calm. Then he shows how our
constant need to be doing more and getting more (and thus our dopamine
addiction) is really not leading to fulfilment – it’s leading to burnout. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">However,
the true value of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How To Calm Your Mind</i>
is not just Bailey’s extensive definitions and examples – it’s the fact that he
lists several useful tools and tricks that will allow the reader to actively
shift from anxiety to calm – although the trip certainly won’t be easy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course,
you’ll need to get a copy of the book to see these tips, but I can guarantee
you they are worth it. I’ve already started following some of Bailey’s advice, and
honestly, I can see a difference in my stress levels already. So why not do the
same?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To read Bailey
is to learn how to change your life for the better, so go on and do it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>How To Calm Your Mind </i>By Chris Bailey is published by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.</b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-18193375055642172972023-01-30T04:11:00.001-08:002023-01-30T04:11:38.963-08:00Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes<p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbMT9wLCTlGp6VVcgCk4VY_QjGvhs9MAB-sbHJKt1WCg4I-DNl5iU2v4ur-TR_6n9qGv-YChSXcClxMn4hQaOPzIgFb7Und8tM-AVAWkWlWwVwlAZ_qT7qhHtBp2Nw-DY3a0FG9H0LdSDh8Eqc-khWBCFoSPGgjDU32ve6nVdLt948vVfh8OkjDH5/s1280/thumbnail_550EE19C-4D3B-48C2-A176-B6D41103EF5F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbMT9wLCTlGp6VVcgCk4VY_QjGvhs9MAB-sbHJKt1WCg4I-DNl5iU2v4ur-TR_6n9qGv-YChSXcClxMn4hQaOPzIgFb7Und8tM-AVAWkWlWwVwlAZ_qT7qhHtBp2Nw-DY3a0FG9H0LdSDh8Eqc-khWBCFoSPGgjDU32ve6nVdLt948vVfh8OkjDH5/w193-h193/thumbnail_550EE19C-4D3B-48C2-A176-B6D41103EF5F.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Rating</b>: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What is it? </b>Mythological fiction </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Ideal for fans of: </b>Stephen Fry and Madelaine Miller </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What makes it special? </b>Unique retelling of a well-known Greek myth</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Get it in South Africa from: </b>Pan Macmillan South Africa</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Medusa’s story is one of the best-known Greek myths. The Gorgon with the
power to turn anything that met her gaze to stone, Medusa has been viewed as a
monster for centuries. Similarly, the brave warrior who ended her reign of
terror – Perseus – has the legacy of a hero, monster slayer and favourite of
the gods. In beheading Medusa, he saved mankind from a bitter and evil woman,
who relished her petrifying abilities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">But is that really how it all went down?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">After all, what makes a monster?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">These questions are central to Natalie Haynes’ investigation of Medusa.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">In <i>Stone Blind</i>, Perseus is not the golden hero who saves the
world from the ravages of a demented Gorgon. Instead, he has been cast as a
vicious little thug, who murdered a girl for no real purpose. He is
inexperienced, dim-witted and cowardly. And it changes everything.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">According to Haynes, Perseus has no idea what he’s doing. He’s not
cunning, but cruel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Stone Blind</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> is a feminist retelling of
Medusa’s story. It begins long before her birth, providing context of the tragedies
to which she was exposed, purely for the entertainment of the Greek gods.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Because if the inhabitants of Olympus treated people as their
playthings, Medusa was their favourite toy. Her life was ruined by a meaningless
battle – of egos – between Athene and Poseidon. Medusa did nothing to deserve
her fate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">And then came Perseus, to give her an undeserved ending.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Of course, all mythology is open to interpretation and a bit of
retelling. It’s what makes these stories linger throughout history. But Haynes
has really outdone herself, and retold this piece of mythology in a totally unique
way. For the first time, we see the other side of the story – a narrative forgotten
or silenced or just never imagined.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">In addition to giving us ample food for thought, and reason to want to
demolish the patriarchy, this book features several well-known cast members of
the theatre that is Greek myth. Altogether, <i>Stone Blind </i>is a vibrant and new
way to see an old story, and it’s amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Stone Blind by Natalie
Haynes is published by Mantle, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-11378448441444417012023-01-13T04:19:00.005-08:002023-05-17T05:41:34.635-07:00Review: Leech by Hiron Ennes <p><b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Fiction <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b>Ideal for
fans of: </b>Iain Reid, <a href="https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/2022/09/review-daisy-darker-by-alice-feeney.html" target="_blank">Alice Feeney</a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Totally
unique story, unexpected twists<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it
in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">:
Pan Macmillan South Africa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyUWtW77J9Te8uFyIJxTrsWemma-t_aP7EgBl5hDzjtcKy7pyBHW8vv7WNfb73pgMW197_O7xRc9pROwjFuY5xMqTN_2fvqDNn2LG4QWhouUBZADWz6E9fjuIg8JC8PcWL9V8RpTDdu_SVUoGmG1iuhUEYqjGynfllD7JSi21X4_Z8kYeRDY_2BfR/s1123/Screenshot%202023-01-13%20at%2012.01.17.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1122" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyUWtW77J9Te8uFyIJxTrsWemma-t_aP7EgBl5hDzjtcKy7pyBHW8vv7WNfb73pgMW197_O7xRc9pROwjFuY5xMqTN_2fvqDNn2LG4QWhouUBZADWz6E9fjuIg8JC8PcWL9V8RpTDdu_SVUoGmG1iuhUEYqjGynfllD7JSi21X4_Z8kYeRDY_2BfR/w264-h264/Screenshot%202023-01-13%20at%2012.01.17.png" width="264" /></a></div>The Interprovincial
Medical Institute has just sent a replacement doctor to an isolated chateau in
the countryside. Nestled deep within the mines and soon to be buried under the
winter snows, the chateau is run by an ailing baron, whose previous doctor died
unexpectedly. Now, the Institute seeks answers. However, the cause of death could
shake the very foundations upon which the Institute stands. Buried deep within
the deceased is a parasite of undetermined origin. And that should have been impossible,
because the physicians are already under the control of the Institute itself. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As the
parasite spreads, the Institute faces competition. It begins to lose its grip on
the household, and as a result, deadly secrets come tumbling out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Have you
noticed that these days, the entertainment industry seems to regurgitate the
same stories, plots or tropes? It’s often pretty easy to predict the plots and
twists of stories these days. In fact, critics might just be tempted to loudly
declare, “There are no new stories anymore – it’s all been done!” Thankfully,
Hiron Ennes has just proven that to be completely incorrect. Not only have they
presented a totally unexpected protagonist in a never-before-seen context, but
Ennes has also managed to add a refreshing setting, language, and history to
the story, to boot. <i>Leech </i>is the literary equivalent of a breath of fresh air.
Even better, it ticks all the right boxes for a perfect thriller. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If this
story doesn’t get turned into a film, it’s just because it hasn’t been read by
the right people yet. So keep your eyes peeled. I would even go so far as to
say it could usher in a new type of storytelling. It’s THAT good. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Also<i>,
Leech</i> is more than just a page-turning thriller with a riveting plot. It’s an
introduction to a world of endless possibility. Clever, thought-provoking, and
chilling, Ennes has penned a work of art that’s also a brilliant piece of
social commentary. By the time you reach the final chapter, you’ll be hard
pressed not to question what you know about humanity, and the monsters that
hide within it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Leech
by Hiron Ennes is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-86942077121584217132022-12-20T08:59:00.000-08:002022-12-20T08:59:21.061-08:00Review: An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa, by Najma Dharani and Abiy Yenesew<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgPuTJk_c6ejgpn03Hik1yZrLG9AA5lnYYxvtY7nC_8ePtP-s0oDGqONHoN5xtlybcVEDWCk8lrXn_R-PvQoY-CUGTvQE5KPOebCMQ69hJntEAGpsER3CH03EG1AyCVGknuC9lCaI-8RZ23BScAfIDHIX7c3N8RTQQQb5dKiUkBUw8BlgjLxJiVp-/s590/thumbnail_IMG_0243.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgPuTJk_c6ejgpn03Hik1yZrLG9AA5lnYYxvtY7nC_8ePtP-s0oDGqONHoN5xtlybcVEDWCk8lrXn_R-PvQoY-CUGTvQE5KPOebCMQ69hJntEAGpsER3CH03EG1AyCVGknuC9lCaI-8RZ23BScAfIDHIX7c3N8RTQQQb5dKiUkBUw8BlgjLxJiVp-/w277-h277/thumbnail_IMG_0243.png" width="277" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Field guide,
fact book <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ideal for
fans of:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Botany,
medicine, herbalism, aromatherapy <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Comprehensive,
fully illustrated and easy to use<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it
in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">:
Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Whether you’re
a novice to plant-based remedies, or a pro with a degree in botany, I guarantee
you’ll learn something from this book. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><i>An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal
Plants of East Africa</i> features a mind-blowing 136 different plant species with
medicinal properties. And that number may include some you’d not expect. For
example, Blue Plumbago can relieve headaches and treat warts. Also, did you know
that the Coral Tree can be used for wound poultices, or to cure ear ache? What’s
more, even Jasmine could form part of your ‘first aid’ garden, as it treats
parasitic worms and lice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Najma
Dharani and Abiy Yenesew have used their extensive combined knowledge to bring
you the ultimate guide to medicinal plants. Moreover, the authors certainly
know what they’re talking about. Dharani is an ecologist and senior lecturer in
plant sciences, while Yenesew is a professor of chemistry, specialising in
organic chemistry. Together, they offer unique insights backed by decades of
scientific research and understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm78JSpaX_j5FWqOE_WerfmExp_McdkGhaKmMLhhGSzerc5A-6sKCsehlEvpWzDabnKOR9V-vYC6dr3ZuN0K1ldArKilnQvtxBSE5FRcLSbjBB5yo1xKr3XkZNQ0QftZCGN7SWGnJJkSjDQK3NQhU2RHgXlXtpmYZov-_wog9_h2QK6FskfRtl0Cs3/s591/thumbnail_IMG_0244.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="587" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm78JSpaX_j5FWqOE_WerfmExp_McdkGhaKmMLhhGSzerc5A-6sKCsehlEvpWzDabnKOR9V-vYC6dr3ZuN0K1ldArKilnQvtxBSE5FRcLSbjBB5yo1xKr3XkZNQ0QftZCGN7SWGnJJkSjDQK3NQhU2RHgXlXtpmYZov-_wog9_h2QK6FskfRtl0Cs3/w260-h262/thumbnail_IMG_0244.png" width="260" /></a></div>Each plant comes
with extensive photographs of the plant in its entirety, as well as close ups
of the leaves, flowers, and (where relevant) bark. In addition, every entry has
a comprehensive description to make sure you correct in your identification. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Even better, the plant ecology and geographic spread are noted, allowing you to
be certain you’re dealing with the right plant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the
most interesting information is the breakdown of everything you need to know to
use these plants. From which plant parts to use, and how to prepare them – while
ensuring that you do this using the correct dosage - and a helpful guide to the
active ingredients, you’ll be a herbalist in no time at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That’s not
all. An Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa also contains info
on conservation, as well as an index to both the common and scientific names of
each entry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Finally,
there’s also a helpful list of common medical ailments, and which plants can be
used for them – saving you time, and helping you learn the major medicinal groupings.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This book is
ideal for every home, especially if you’d like to venture towards herbal
medicine and cultivate your own first aid garden. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An
Illustrated Guide to Medicinal Plants of East Africa, by Najma Dharani and Abiy
Yenesew is published by Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South
Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-2367622101870297632022-11-14T00:35:00.000-08:002022-11-14T00:35:06.387-08:00Review: A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, by Johan Marais<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J3o-J0Q37Vj-vzaeRPk4nilfr2m0jutANnEYLr6Grn8Tk_oWmSHbRY7uM-00SeWO1cwTrxCM8YCAX_cXIbp7AnXt7xi6TVYUd4eRXE2niHwRydQzRN4A4pZmuryeZg8LbigLaXJqgPjT6UmkY8XkLVtX85DI9ImVpZK4Jtm042_yfVKrEefsljk-/s590/cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J3o-J0Q37Vj-vzaeRPk4nilfr2m0jutANnEYLr6Grn8Tk_oWmSHbRY7uM-00SeWO1cwTrxCM8YCAX_cXIbp7AnXt7xi6TVYUd4eRXE2niHwRydQzRN4A4pZmuryeZg8LbigLaXJqgPjT6UmkY8XkLVtX85DI9ImVpZK4Jtm042_yfVKrEefsljk-/w292-h292/cover.png" width="292" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Field guide <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ideal for
fans of:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> the great
outdoors, animals, or fact collectors<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Comprehensive,
fully illustrated and easy to use<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it
in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">:
Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In South Africa,
it’s snake season. Summer means that hikers, nature lovers and gardeners need to
be on the lookout lest they end up with a puncture wound or worse.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Thankfully,
Johan Marais and Struik Nature have you covered. Whether you’re totally
clueless when it comes to snakes or a full-blown herpetologist, this book is
ideal for your collection. However, by the time you’ve read through this
volume, you’ll go from novice to pro. Marais’ book is essentially a crash
course in herpetology. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Don’t be
deceived by the unassuming cover. This book contains a literal treasure trove
of snake facts. The contents are divided into five groups for ease of
reference. Once you’ve established whether the snake in question is an adder/viper,
cobra, mamba, venomous, non-venomous, or blind, you can really get into the
nitty gritty details. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBOyhRphJDSjEroul0D2dahq_hGNrx33vLQogigHYeNn-ojEcF593jtmiK9MdleY3F6xYJ88bMDz1W9o6nA492IjdgWlnw9ZRMHf1i3PXMUquWK--YfhuizrDD2WMaHoUFr6ktTHXyvdC-aDCDGzegCcoiKx6XufwapCaVB0KjS9A2al-MnagL0VB/s587/frog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="587" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBOyhRphJDSjEroul0D2dahq_hGNrx33vLQogigHYeNn-ojEcF593jtmiK9MdleY3F6xYJ88bMDz1W9o6nA492IjdgWlnw9ZRMHf1i3PXMUquWK--YfhuizrDD2WMaHoUFr6ktTHXyvdC-aDCDGzegCcoiKx6XufwapCaVB0KjS9A2al-MnagL0VB/w175-h172/frog.png" width="175" /></a></div>For
example, I can confirm that a snake we encountered walking our dogs along the
river was a harmless brown water snake.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, thankfully, we don’t need a new walking route. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">However, as an aside, the term ‘harmless’ here is a little subjective. While the brown water snake poses no threat
to me or three large dogs, not everyone is free to make that claim. After all, I can’t say the same for the poor frog that’s about to be
dinner, as shown here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But back to
<i>A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa.</i> Each entry features SO
MUCH information. This includes a full-colour photograph (although most of the
snakes have been shown from different angles. They know their good sides, and
the camera loves them). Then there’s a map illustrating the animal’s geographic
distribution, along with a detailed illustration of head shape. We’re not done.
There’s also that all-important note on whether said snake is venomous or not
(and if that’s the case, Marais has included first-aid procedure, which could literally
save your life!) Finally, there’s a handy size guide –snake lengths are compared
to a human arm, making the phrase ‘it was this big’ more valuable than ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And, as
they say in the infomercials, that’s not all. Each entry has detailed notes on
the snake’s markings, colour, habitat, similar species, feeding information, behaviours,
scientific and common names, as well as how these critters reproduce. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Honestly,
who needs Google?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This book
is more than a field guide for snakes. It’s an encyclopaedia that is as easy to
use as it is impressive. What’s more, it fits nicely into a backpack, so you’ll
never need to be without this information. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A
Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa by Johan Marais is published by
Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-29411945573756448652022-10-25T06:02:00.002-07:002022-10-25T06:02:20.394-07:00Review: Vetplant Fairies, by Fiona Moodie, Ingrid de Kok and Antjie Krog<p><b><span lang="EN-GB">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Illustrated,
children’s poetry <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ideal for
fans of:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Fynbos
Fairies (Antjie Krog and Fiona Moodie)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Gorgeous
illustrations and adorable prose; also available in Afrikaans<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it in
South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">: Umuzi,
an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlCXscDQWZCYNAWQM5vXvEXK4kj40I5NYpHdrOx9qpgHVKJS5BI2W9fYlAVPZRYruT-HytK39zyGca6SJZMXxkhiMiQxTd6IsH922eHuJkM_WOa377RpKW___5u1hrUClHyIbTyUqDhBHsdA5WrA65tZo_u1Mj0Lq9Dccoxw0zP-4f2JK3tVx0buv/s1280/thumbnail_F24A9FB5-F04B-4E7C-B588-B1694CCD8B04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlCXscDQWZCYNAWQM5vXvEXK4kj40I5NYpHdrOx9qpgHVKJS5BI2W9fYlAVPZRYruT-HytK39zyGca6SJZMXxkhiMiQxTd6IsH922eHuJkM_WOa377RpKW___5u1hrUClHyIbTyUqDhBHsdA5WrA65tZo_u1Mj0Lq9Dccoxw0zP-4f2JK3tVx0buv/s320/thumbnail_F24A9FB5-F04B-4E7C-B588-B1694CCD8B04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What do you
get when you combine two South African literary legends with an illustrator
extraordinaire? A visual treat that’s not just for children! Yes, Vetplant (succulent)
Fairies might be marketed as a children’s book, but let’s be honest. Plant
lovers everywhere will be dying to get their hands on this little volume, too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Vetplant
Fairies</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> isn’t just
attractive because it’s the work of a few powerhouse South African literary
figures. Of course, the writers and illustrators share a huge amount of
accolades, including literary awards, art exhibitions across the globe, and more
books than you can count. But <i>this</i> title is special. It comes at a time
when South Africans acknowledge the importance, freedom and sheer beauty of the
outdoors. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After a global pandemic that had us holed up inside for months, this
call to nature is a breath of fresh air. So why not take <i>Vetplant Fairies</i> on your next great adventure, and see if you can spot all the books' residents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This book
features fifteen of Southern Africa’s best-known succulents. <i>Euphorbia</i>,
<i>lithops</i>, <i>aloe</i>, <i>hoodia</i> and <i>crassula</i> all feature! Accompanying
a full-page, full-colour illustration of each plant (with accompanying wildlife
and fairies) is a carefully penned poem. Some are whimsical, some sad, but all
of them are ideal for read-alongs with little ones. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Aside from
the pictures and text, this book also serves to educate young and old readers
about some of the region’s most beautiful (and occasionally scarce) plants. It’s
a visual diary of a few of natures biggest delights, and it is timeless. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Now if you’ll
excuse me, I need to see about having some of these images copied and framed. They’re
that impressive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Vetplant
Fairies, by Fiona Moodie, Ingrid de Kok and Antjie Krog is published by Umuzi, an
imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-70097878658395409242022-09-16T05:53:00.000-07:002022-09-16T05:53:10.367-07:00Review: Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSGtdqquHYxUXg1Ynmv3hSbyYg7hEqPHoi-k0OejADxpQAM6LVgvx3SWiX_MD0ZEqPDGQjjt9FfpmrePc71TupGWgtW9o_IuUD3O6GrvP_bEBkLablebG-hrT0l6IMnMNUtGdIF5hn6stWEQGzOl8R2CsVmWkdtIVw0CXoskkMIx_pHQLtHu-Bf_I/s586/thumbnail_IMG_7710.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="586" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSGtdqquHYxUXg1Ynmv3hSbyYg7hEqPHoi-k0OejADxpQAM6LVgvx3SWiX_MD0ZEqPDGQjjt9FfpmrePc71TupGWgtW9o_IuUD3O6GrvP_bEBkLablebG-hrT0l6IMnMNUtGdIF5hn6stWEQGzOl8R2CsVmWkdtIVw0CXoskkMIx_pHQLtHu-Bf_I/w272-h271/thumbnail_IMG_7710.png" width="272" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Fiction, mystery/drama<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ideal for
fans of:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The Guest
List (Lucy Foley) or Sleep (CL Taylor)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Exceptional
prose and a triple twist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it in
South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">: Pan
Macmillan South Africa <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Daisy
Darker died eight times by her thirteenth birthday. Then again, she was only
given fifteen years to live thanks to a congenital heart defect. Daisy suspects
this is the reason she is her mother’s least favourite child. Because she was
born damaged, into an already breaking family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But that’s
all behind her now. Daisy is preparing for a family reunion. To celebrate her
nana’s 80<sup>th</sup> birthday bash, the whole family will meet at Seaglass; a
ramshackle old house isolated on a tiny island. And Daisy has a secret. Yet
while her family is stuck together until the tide goes out, they’re not alone. They’re
trapped with a killer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Daisy
Darker</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> can be
summed up in a single word: delicious. The writing is superb, with a nod to
high-brow literature, yet accessible. Daisy Darker reads so easily it feels
like you’re inhaling the story. And what a story it is! We’re slowly guided
back through the Darker family’s murky past, until it becomes clear that Daisy isn’t
the only one who’s hiding something. Each trip back adds to the present
narrative and helps build tension as we count down the hours until the tide is
out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Feeney ends
of this masterpiece with a satisfying grand reveal that includes not one, or
two, but THREE twists. So yes, you might be able to correctly navigate the red
herrings and guess the killer correctly. But I guarantee that you will not
predict the unique outcome. And that’s reason enough to try Alice Feeney. She’s
put a modern spin on a well-known genre, and made it new again. Moreover, her writing
is vibrant, explosive and dramatic, and this makes for the perfect literary
getaway. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Daisy
Darker by Alice Feeney is published by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, and
can be sourced from Pan Macmillan South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-50786110290015621532022-09-06T09:57:00.002-07:002022-09-06T09:57:55.585-07:00Review: Field Guide to the Amaryllis Family by Graham Duncan, Barbara Jeppe and Leigh Voigt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AZZHhQubkf26ZzxBCjZ5-3ePhVX3KU3EjvMnzsGHebNC6gYOwRoMHTuMJm165oSlQXKvVW7v85nC1JkbFcc-FxSiiiIamAqp7na00y8pEj2C1y13ln-V0ou159BZ9kIGsm-p-0seaDbpi3VIRWDELx00_d3yZs5XcR78nOimanu0-3UjL548F19A/s1125/IMG_7530.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1124" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AZZHhQubkf26ZzxBCjZ5-3ePhVX3KU3EjvMnzsGHebNC6gYOwRoMHTuMJm165oSlQXKvVW7v85nC1JkbFcc-FxSiiiIamAqp7na00y8pEj2C1y13ln-V0ou159BZ9kIGsm-p-0seaDbpi3VIRWDELx00_d3yZs5XcR78nOimanu0-3UjL548F19A/w209-h209/IMG_7530.PNG" width="209" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-GB">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf
essential</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What is
it? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Non-fiction, field
guide<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ideal
for: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Plant lovers
and amateur botanists <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What
makes it special?</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> The
content is organised by biome, with full-colour illustrations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Get it
in from</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">: Penguin
Random House South Africa (Struik Nature). Otherwise, check out the Botanical Society of South Africa (or your local botanical garden).<br /><br />___________________________________________________________________________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The
Amaryllis family is made up of a whopping 18 genera, comprising 265 species located
mostly in Southern Africa. And this book covers all of them. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Amateur
botanists, hikers and nature enthusiasts alike will no longer have to guess exactly
<i>which</i> Amaryllis plant they’re looking at. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKyD9lSyVAh405HO4huEEdwkzlkNUoCm1FvyF14iLtvTLOJePj0SlnKbYrmHX5WO2HpP8XcceYTxda9jXAdTeOlJdg2Ud3f54xQpu1OClADdeN-D8fkwYuheiTvWZkYzRWMRSUe82NqFWtMHAJP2oeCCYRphsGLkjWz33WoMDEqwlExDKkFyrl7-5/s1124/IMG_7532.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1124" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKyD9lSyVAh405HO4huEEdwkzlkNUoCm1FvyF14iLtvTLOJePj0SlnKbYrmHX5WO2HpP8XcceYTxda9jXAdTeOlJdg2Ud3f54xQpu1OClADdeN-D8fkwYuheiTvWZkYzRWMRSUe82NqFWtMHAJP2oeCCYRphsGLkjWz33WoMDEqwlExDKkFyrl7-5/w185-h184/IMG_7532.PNG" width="185" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The <i>Field
Guide to the Amaryllis Family</i> is the bible for all-things Amaryllis.
Comprehensive is an understatement. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It’s detailed
and fully illustrated – including drawings and photographs of the underground structures
(which is hopefully only for the event that you stumble across an uprooted bulb.
<b>Please </b>don’t dig up Amaryllis willy nilly! I beg you!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Each entry
includes where a plant is found, look-alikes, and its life cycle. That way, you’ll
know when to look out for flowers, seeds, or good ol’ fashioned greenery. </span>It also features the history and medicinal properties of each species.</p><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Finding a
plant is easy, as they’re organised by biome. If you don’t know what that is,
no problem. The authors have included a section explaining what these are and
how they differ. </span><div><div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEwGKvy82530Jy3vL9N06GTycI1ZkoQmQeDNdKObFmgWoF0dO_k2s_H112JVzFGsLdFtmhffBM1U9gr-RCgOKFy_Vu9MpsWyeU-IiuDDt_Fzj8zH2_RFaJslrmzgPrlgn-1JaK2pZRo8NWdHJxFqbenSddSMWC__A2zkgkZi9-2-rIPAr0LcjSxY6/s1121/IMG_7531.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1115" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEwGKvy82530Jy3vL9N06GTycI1ZkoQmQeDNdKObFmgWoF0dO_k2s_H112JVzFGsLdFtmhffBM1U9gr-RCgOKFy_Vu9MpsWyeU-IiuDDt_Fzj8zH2_RFaJslrmzgPrlgn-1JaK2pZRo8NWdHJxFqbenSddSMWC__A2zkgkZi9-2-rIPAr0LcjSxY6/w187-h188/IMG_7531.PNG" width="187" /></a></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This means that depending on which region you’re located in –
and there are maps to help you work it out – you can narrow down searches,
making identification user friendly. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">[I feel
like this is a good point to repeat: there are 265 different species of this
plant. That creates a lot of potential for misidentification.]<br />
<br />
As an aside, this is exactly how I discovered that I live on the cusp of two
biomes; fynbos and succulent karoo (the authors are turning me into a novice
geographer, too – how’s that for an added bonus?).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This book
is also a visual record of the entire Amaryllis family. If you don’t use it as
a field guide, you could still keep it is a comprehensive botanical diary. The
photographs and illustrations are downright gorgeous, and for good reason. It
took a tribe; 162 photographers and artists. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And as a
final treat, it provides a list of bulb stockists, so that you can source some
of these botanical delights for yourself, too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Field
Guide to the Amaryllis Family by Graham Duncan, Barbara Jeppe and Leigh Voigt is
published by Galley Press, and can be sourced from Struik Nature, an imprint of
Penguin Random House South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p></div></div>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-48179067524215672762022-01-28T00:50:00.000-08:002022-01-28T00:50:09.189-08:00Review: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO6IaH5LD0NlpQDrvljpLWAj4ZQ3Yh56UG1auU_LfmmWUNMXVrEObLCd6yEnjvKqtKOubOM0duM3xo7P3NacctK2VJIpDs9ADBkhzmM14shDea6mn0jJAs8xP6nmVtP2M011VXWTYfXahMMBDoBWDnV99Y7HNRdBxrKOgfeQCIphbwfkyYUbqaikmw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO6IaH5LD0NlpQDrvljpLWAj4ZQ3Yh56UG1auU_LfmmWUNMXVrEObLCd6yEnjvKqtKOubOM0duM3xo7P3NacctK2VJIpDs9ADBkhzmM14shDea6mn0jJAs8xP6nmVtP2M011VXWTYfXahMMBDoBWDnV99Y7HNRdBxrKOgfeQCIphbwfkyYUbqaikmw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><span lang="EN-US">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: 4 Stars</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Genre</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Popular science, self-help<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Themes</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Emotions and how to use them to
communicate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ideal
for fans of</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Rhonda
Byrne, Oprah <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Get it
in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">:
Penguin Random House South Africa <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Atlas of
the Heart </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is a
compendium of 87 emotions and experiences – that means 87 different emotions
and the thoughts that lead to them. They’re conveniently grouped by similarity
of the feelings, and the responses they evoke. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bren</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Brown is uniquely qualified to write about emotions – she’s had a
lifelong interest in how these feelings effect our lives, and specially, how
they change the way we communicate. Her interest eventually became a passion,
and then a career. And it all started with some fascinating research on one of
the world’s most complex emotions – shame. Despite this, Brown freely admits
that she doesn’t have concrete answers to every question concerning emotions,
but she does have a lot of data, and the help of fellow researchers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her conclusions
are remarkable. Not only does she define every emotion and experience covered
in this tome, but she gives the reader incredible information that leads to
several “ah ha!” moments, starting from her assertion that a lot of what we
think of as emotion is actually just cognitive responses – emotion is as much about
thinking as it is a bout feeling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But that’s
not all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Brown helps
us distinguish between similar emotions (like envy and jealousy) because if you
better understand what you’re feeling and why, you can talk about it, form meaningful
connections, and learn from it. You can master your emotions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This book
is packed with astonishing insights, including how boredom is actually good for
you, and that disappointment CAN be measured. But don’t feel overwhelmed – all the
research and data is presented in easy to follow and easier to digest
bite-sized chunks. Brown’s style is also refreshingly personal – she gives
context to her research, but shares this with an honest how-to style, that
feels more like you’re getting advice from a friend than getting cold hard
science. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There’s
more. You’ll also get three skillsets for using emotion to cultivate meaningful
connection with other people – so you can take what you’ve learned, and
actually apply it to make your life better. What more could you want?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Atlas
of the Heart by Bren</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Brown is published by Penguin
Random House <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-19291405897124485702022-01-26T05:15:00.001-08:002022-01-26T05:15:20.461-08:00Review: The Unravelling by Polly Crosby <p><b><span lang="EN-US"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7ZbzeKP80GwBH7q10vJs_wShfsY3pkzNUf0Hp0ZLlem8u63YHV41N0O5P_cs3A2bAjbQ2diBAm0b-QG5kfRzPPZKdjL0zDDmtDI37JFugpICxHlD_PmGo92hPsiJj9lnhPN2Gkj46ThC5_kZIY8boTPm14vCuUi-ELa-yuDa4YNVPKVFoKBACEDWm=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7ZbzeKP80GwBH7q10vJs_wShfsY3pkzNUf0Hp0ZLlem8u63YHV41N0O5P_cs3A2bAjbQ2diBAm0b-QG5kfRzPPZKdjL0zDDmtDI37JFugpICxHlD_PmGo92hPsiJj9lnhPN2Gkj46ThC5_kZIY8boTPm14vCuUi-ELa-yuDa4YNVPKVFoKBACEDWm=s320" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US">Alternate
name</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: <i>The Women
of Pearl Island</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rating</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: 5 Stars (Masterful)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Genre</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Literary fiction with a dash of history<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Themes</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Grief, family, love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ideal
for fans of</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: Natasha
Carthew, Megan Hunter, Sara Collins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Get it
in South Africa from</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">:
Jonathan Ball Publishers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After her
mother’s death, Tartelin feels unmoored. She thinks with longing of her mum’s
stories of the sea, and longs for closure. When she spies an advert for a job
posting on a remote island off the English coast, it immediately catches her
eye. Marianne Stourbridge, a lepidopterist, seeks an assistant, and Tartelin is
looking for a way to escape and heal. With this job, she can be near the ocean
her mother loved so much. It seems like fate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yet when
she arrives, Tartelin realizes nothing is as it seems. The strangely deserted isle
holds more than just the ruins of buildings once washed away into the sea – it holds
a mystery, and Marianne is at the very scarred heart of it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But there’s
a catch. Miss Stourbridge is no longer used to company, and keeps her assistant
at arm’s length. Yet somehow, the two women eventually become close, sharing their
time, their grief, and finally, uncovering the island’s history, and the
secrets it has hidden beneath its bleak exterior. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Unraveling
is more than a satisfying tale with a dash of history and suspense. It is an investigation
into the nature of loss, and how this shapes not just a person, but their past
and future, too. The carefully woven subplots of evolution and rebirth remind
us that family isn’t necessarily a blood bond, but a meeting of like-minded
souls and a desire to be seen and see. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tartelin
and Marianne are united by grief and loss, yet separated by so much else, not
least of which their ages. Despite this, Polly Crosby reminds us that love and
acceptance have no boundaries, and any playing field can be levelled with
enough trust. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The mysterious
and frightening history of the island and its inhabitants also serve to
highlight the dark side of humanity, a start contrast to the hopeful sweetness
felt throughout the novel. Crosby shows that man can be both creator and
destroyer, and all that separates the two is motivation. Crosby gives tangible weight
to the power of things left unsaid, making this book as much a story of loss
and longing as it is of hope and happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Unravelling</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> is poetic
and beautifully written, but it is also an addictive story. It’s the kind of
literary fiction that has a refreshingly satisfying and undeniable pull, making
it sure to appeal to any reader. This is top-shelf prose made accessible
through a brilliant story, and the effect is nothing short of perfection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Unravelling by Polly Crosby is published by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers,
and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-90565924950224550142021-11-29T01:38:00.002-08:002021-11-29T01:38:32.744-08:00Review: The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6VCFqlw3bmp0u9vuU31puYFhT8vDzNaCrqPcHSiNUtZB65_7FmAuMDBN4HzhLj2GtJok5lLApaNNXadyq9JLjNxHosIIoBcMLmYcDMilov-QKsjKQcu_Q_O_IBcfmEZ30atcg-oJKx0/s1080/IMG_20211129_105406_979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6VCFqlw3bmp0u9vuU31puYFhT8vDzNaCrqPcHSiNUtZB65_7FmAuMDBN4HzhLj2GtJok5lLApaNNXadyq9JLjNxHosIIoBcMLmYcDMilov-QKsjKQcu_Q_O_IBcfmEZ30atcg-oJKx0/s320/IMG_20211129_105406_979.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Despite
only being 17, Eleanor has not led an easy life. her mother passed away when
she was just 9, but thankfully, she had Mrs Pembroke, who took her in and
raised her like a daughter., but the relief was short lived, because after
three years, Mrs Pembroke followed Eleanor’s mother to the land of the dead. And
then everything changed. Instead of continuing her life as Mr Pembroke’s ward,
Ella was made a housemaid, forced into a life of service and poverty, and constantly
under the dark and oppressive shadow of the master of the house, who is a
little too interested in the young women in his employ.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite this,
she has one silver lining: the library. In the depths of night, Eleanor sneaks
into the forbidden room to let her mind escape through stories. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s during one of these midnight sojourns
that Eleanor’s life changes completely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">She’s not
alone in the library, this time. There’s a black-eyed woman with her, with a startling
proposition: she will grant Eleanor seven wishes, in exchange for the young woman’s
soul. Only, there’s a catch – each wish comes at a very steep price. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The premise
of selling your soul to the devil is certainly not a new, but JJA Harwood might
just make you forget that. Shocked by the carnage each wish creates, and the
ultimate price she will have to pay, Eleanor strives to make something of her
life without the assistance of any supernatural forces. But she can’t – each
time she tries to resist the allure of that simple word, fate, or perhaps the
woman with the black eyes, forces her hand, and soon enough Eleanor is down to
a final wish, without much to show for her trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thankfully,
she has a plan to ensure she never has to give up her soul, nor the final wish
which ties it to her. But will it work?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Shadow in the Glass</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
is more than a cautionary tale of the dangers of ambition and the downsides of making
a deal with the devil. Apart from being the literal embodiment of the warning to
be careful what you wish for, it’s a tale of a desperation, with a strong
social commentary carefully used as background. Eleanor’s gradual descent into
depravity and desperation are starkly contrasted to the romance and bright
future our protagonist longs for. The Shadow in The Glass is a page-turner and an
exhilarating journey from the first sentence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint
of Harper Collins Publishers, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan
Ball Publishers. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-27708235203770452072021-11-15T03:58:00.000-08:002021-11-15T03:58:05.284-08:00Review: Son of The Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJulXVG30V-NF61NdSy_hudAHlgI06wia44WKrHPazK-s40yf7LzNBDm6YY9IFimGlhqlENlxNcSATALlmdcGrxsx57fWJuOPOfJ-JUBFVNkT5juKEq-8ZF7ohw8frWevx2oskinMgKoM/s2048/IMG_20210728_155200_713.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJulXVG30V-NF61NdSy_hudAHlgI06wia44WKrHPazK-s40yf7LzNBDm6YY9IFimGlhqlENlxNcSATALlmdcGrxsx57fWJuOPOfJ-JUBFVNkT5juKEq-8ZF7ohw8frWevx2oskinMgKoM/s320/IMG_20210728_155200_713.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Danso has
found himself in a unique position. Despite not being High Bassai, he is a novitiate,
and while his position in the guild is tenuous, he seems totally unconcerned
with decorum. Instead, Danso seeks the truth behind stories, including that of his
mother’s past. His fixation has landed him in hot water a few times, much to
the ire of his intended, Esheme.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yet when
events beyond Danso’s control force the land of Bassa to close its borders, and
for Danso to be expelled from his university, his life changes beyond
recognition. But that’s nothing compared to his discovery of a strange warrior
from a distant land, with the ability to wield magic, and a price-tag on her
head. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ands it’s
that discovery, along with his insane desire to help this exile, that REALLY
lands him in trouble, and places his life, and the lives of everyone he loves,
in danger. Because it turns out Danso has a secret of his own, which could unsettle
the very history upon which the kingdom of Bassa was founded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">African
fantasy has just found itself a king in the form of Suyi Davies <a name="_Hlk87876703">Okungbowa</a>. I’ve yet to discover another writer who can
effortlessly weave African mythology and history with a dazzling display of
fantasy to create something new and delicious. <i>Son of the Storm</i> is more
into just a foray into the birthplace of humanity (and probably magic). It is a
cleverly crafted social narrative that exposes injustices and discrimination
while the camouflage of epic fiction. Okungbowa has created a page-turner that
is as addictive as it is compelling. He has reintroduced to the world to the
power for Africa, and an African story, and I am hooked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But there’s
a downside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just as the
characters start to feel like real people, and the trek across unknown lands
really hits its stride, we are left with an (admittedly very good) cliffhanger,
and the torture of waiting for the next instalment. Which means that we have
what feels like an eternity to wait before the story continues. I hate that – I
want more already, so excuse me while I learn to transform a sulk session into
patience. In the meantime, join the party and grab a copy of Son of the Storm before
Hollywood finds it first! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Son
of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is published by Orbit, an imprint of
Little, Brown Book Group, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball
Publishers. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-26549395109863230992021-10-27T05:23:00.003-07:002021-10-27T05:23:40.905-07:00Review: Rabbits by Terry Miles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMR6VA8f0SQdWeJGDpgXWVEs_71Vrx-juYhjXSBGNknbY62VRdxn0tFkN2ZQOcIPHy_VS8ETyenbWlarKWkE_cZfjnolHTG2M1Hb__AVzCAqeQPbhD2zsb0d2mBgfekmot-Hx10fP-nA/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_20210922_170941_664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMR6VA8f0SQdWeJGDpgXWVEs_71Vrx-juYhjXSBGNknbY62VRdxn0tFkN2ZQOcIPHy_VS8ETyenbWlarKWkE_cZfjnolHTG2M1Hb__AVzCAqeQPbhD2zsb0d2mBgfekmot-Hx10fP-nA/s320/thumbnail_IMG_20210922_170941_664.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>K’s a gamer,
but he’s not your average gamer. Sure, he’ll dabble in arcade games and online
roleplayers, but what he’s really into is something many of fellow gamers haven’t
heard of: Rabbits. The pattern-seeking underground game is the cause of much
speculation, because like Fight Club, you don’t talk about it. Which is why the
purpose, players, and plot of the game are all such a mystery. All K knows is
that it’s real, and it’s something he wants – no, needs – to win, and not just
because the prize promises to be the winner’s most heartfelt desire.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But just as
the next round of the game is supposed to start, the unthinkable happens. K is
approached by a former winner, who requests his help to fix Rabbits, before something
terrible happens. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And as he
tries to help, he realizes that something terrible isn’t just forfeiting the
prize – if K doesn’t fix Rabbits, the world as he knows it will end. Literally.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rabbits is
an ambitious project, and Terry Miles has accomplished a feat in world
building. Despite a somewhat slow start, once it heats up, it’ll keep you
flicking through the pages at a record rate. And part of the reason for that is
that <i>so much</i> is happening. Truly, <i>Rabbits</i> is the definition of ‘something
for everyone’. There’s conspiracy theories, technological advances and AI, a
peek at the multiverse, a love story, a dash of adventure, and of course, a
little murder and mayhem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And this
combination makes it feel familiar in the best way. It makes the reader think
of shows like Fringe or Netflix’s Devs meets The Matrix vibes, with an added
puzzle-solving and whodunit aspect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And for
that reason, I have one very important bit of advice for you: read Rabbits
before it becomes the next Hollywood sensation, because Tinseltown would be
crazy to pass up this story! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rabbits
by Terry Miles is published by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan. And is
available in South Africa from Pan Macmillan South Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-89284307819791229352021-10-22T05:36:00.005-07:002021-10-22T05:38:57.912-07:00Review: The Watchers by A.M. Shine<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBoS5UqbZnaaHy4c4xjw-M3dZGROyH6bZFjNzS8oOKrsTPFKU6syrXnVSmrIF8QOByy-38CBkruxTdl5dTm-Q4OR1hxIeuQ-ELRjKXtWzNJR0zP72jlvVPoniHxwzr4-hZS31gp6sy08/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_20211017_212757_703.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBoS5UqbZnaaHy4c4xjw-M3dZGROyH6bZFjNzS8oOKrsTPFKU6syrXnVSmrIF8QOByy-38CBkruxTdl5dTm-Q4OR1hxIeuQ-ELRjKXtWzNJR0zP72jlvVPoniHxwzr4-hZS31gp6sy08/s320/thumbnail_IMG_20211017_212757_703.jpg" width="320" /></a>When Mina volunteered
to act as a courier for a quick bit of cash, she had no idea that her life was
about to change. It started in the woods. After taking a wrong turn or seven,
Mina becomes lost, and arrives at the edge of a forest, when her car suddenly
dies, leaving her no choice but to try reach her destination on foot. Yet as
Mina proceeds through the woods, she can’t help but shake a feeling that
something isn’t right, and as the sun sets, her discomfort increases.</div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When she’s
spooked by a strange inhuman cry, Mina is saved from a chaotic sprint through
the woods by the sudden appearance of a light, and a woman beckoning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is how
she learns about The Watchers. Deep within the forest, is a room, where a
mirror and a light are all that stand between a handful of wretched survivors and
certain death. Now, Mina must come to terms with her new life: scavenging for
food in the day, and sheltering in an abandoned concrete room at night, when
The Watchers come out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But how
long can Mina’s new family survive like this, and what happens when they can’t outrun
the darkness?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Watchers</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> is an
unexpectedly delightful and mature horror. In a world populated with slasher
films and jump scares, horror has transformed from the psychological to the
visual, but A.M. Shine is changing that. Shine takes us back to the origins of
horror – a slow reveal of something so unexpected, it makes you judge your
sanity. This is horror for the intellectual, and it’s brilliant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not only does
Shine build some pretty impressive tension theme of the terror of the unknown,
but the author takes a step into the world of fantasy while doing this,
twisting and reinventing myths and legends we’ve forgotten from our childhood. The
nostalgia, combined with the creeping thrills throughout this book, guarantee an
epic binge-reading session, because you will not want to put this book down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
Watchers by A.M. Shine is published by Head of Zeus and is available in South
Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers</span></i></b></p><p></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-22491725536042861922021-09-28T09:04:00.006-07:002021-09-28T09:04:50.505-07:00Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2raMf-L8wbwF3CrpucX232apQtAs4JSrqWVqH6NL6jIZ0AeLWDt9e-DY56gPfnVatHlFoD9O73BYKoP0HKemwYeADfTxU3NGaslar6eE1SeWAVipoFoXs7TO65ISnwkTtu-DJPsV6Gw/s1080/IMG_20210927_182921_572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2raMf-L8wbwF3CrpucX232apQtAs4JSrqWVqH6NL6jIZ0AeLWDt9e-DY56gPfnVatHlFoD9O73BYKoP0HKemwYeADfTxU3NGaslar6eE1SeWAVipoFoXs7TO65ISnwkTtu-DJPsV6Gw/s320/IMG_20210927_182921_572.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For Deka’s whole life, she has been raised according to the principles
of Oyomo; that a woman’s place is to serve and honour men. Yet on the day of
the Ritual of Purity, in which Deka will be cut to demonstrate the purity of
her blood, everything changes. Instead of the crimson life force that flows
through the veins of the other village girls; Deka’s blood is liquid gold. She is
Unpure, and the sentence for this crime is death, because the Unpure are
descended from demons.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Only Deka doesn’t die. Again and again, the elders try to
end her life, yet her spirit and body remain intact. Just as the elders think
they have discovered the way to truly kill her, she is saved by an unexpected
source; an emissary of the emperor. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Instead of death, Deka must join an army of girls like her to
fight the worst threat that the land has ever faced. And the emperor is willing
to sacrifice them all to win. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But when training starts, Deka realises that there’s more to
her new position, and the army itself, than she could ever have expected. What
she learns shakes the very foundations of her world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Gilded Ones</i> satisfies every possible craving a
fan of Young Adult could have. Namina Forna has given us a glorious mythology
with horrific yet strangely familiar limitations and social ills. We have a love
story that is like no other, a generous dose of magic and intrigue, and even a
range of action sequences. All of this has been woven together and perceived through
a fantastic (literally) lens to make it pure magic. Once you start reading, you
cannot stop. The characters are too enticing, the sub plots too arresting, and the
writing too convincing and powerful to refuse. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Gilded Ones</i> will impress more than just YA fans –
it will woo lovers of myth and legend, the seekers of fantasy, and those who
want a peek of realism through struggle and inequality. It is superb. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is published by Usborne,
AND IS AVAILABEL IN South Africa from Penguin Random House South Africa. <o:p></o:p></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185082700559243253.post-63860007195886192792021-09-10T05:04:00.003-07:002021-09-10T05:04:39.963-07:00Review: Serial Killers of Russia by Wensley Clarkson <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg8gGEoqduRReG9oC0iIs6xJRO1LBw1hoVSsVqssPikUoCirUHHWd-NrBTeLsGceXEh5IgyzZPYFHuuUu-c4jNGWkM7i3JEdWYSlvjyqAdLyB_TTKxnpluRAFLbEF7LcEtquq6gz4VJE/s2048/IMG_20210909_103546_092.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg8gGEoqduRReG9oC0iIs6xJRO1LBw1hoVSsVqssPikUoCirUHHWd-NrBTeLsGceXEh5IgyzZPYFHuuUu-c4jNGWkM7i3JEdWYSlvjyqAdLyB_TTKxnpluRAFLbEF7LcEtquq6gz4VJE/s320/IMG_20210909_103546_092.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Wensley
Clarkson has made a career of getting into the minds of the world’s deadliest
and darkest murderers. And this time, he’s heading to unchartered territory:
Russia. <i>Serial Killers of Russia</i> comprises the true events behind nine
of Russia’s deadliest serial killers, and how these murderers evaded capture
for so long.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you
though serial killers were purely an American phenomenon, prepare to be proven
wrong. Just because we haven’t heard about these homicides before doesn’t mean
they never happened – as Clarkson explains, it’s all due to something equally
terrifying: Russian politics, and the refusal of the nation to admit to anything
that might tarnish its reputation in the West. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s
immediately apparent from the start of this book that Clarkson is incredibly
confident. He claims that his experience with true crime writing and
documentaries has given him an unusual and in-depth understanding of what makes
a psychopath tick. Yet it pains me to say that the execution falls a little flat.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After several
disclaimers of the morbid nature of the crimes, and warning to squeamish readers,
this book isn’t as advertised. Perhaps it says something about the macabre
nature of human interest and today’s media, but many of the crimes included in the
volume are nowhere near as scary as Hollywood’s offerings. Instead, there is a glaring
over-reliance on extreme adjectives which constantly forces the reader to remember
that this is <i>bad shit</i>. But there are only so many times you can use
words like heinous, gruesome or horrific in a sentence before the language
loses its appeal and becomes distracting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And then
there are those inconsistencies. Despite promises of insights from killer’s
minds, the majority of commentary about the mental state of these murderers
comes in the form of unnamed experts, who seem to know a great deal about the
inner workings of these homicidal maniacs without revealing <i>how</i>. Furthermore,
Clarkson spends a great deal of time lamenting the state of Russian politics,
and how this has affected the country’s lackluster policing. Yet his constant
reminders that the Russian police force were inept and corrupt, with no
interest in solving murders or putting in the work are peppered with notes from
detectives, eyewitness testimonies (from sources that also remain nameless) and
arrest details that prove the contrary. Altogether, this lends <i>Serial
Killers of Russia</i> a degree of implausibility which reads more like fiction
than non-fiction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But it’s
not all bad. The details about Russia’s socio-economic past are incredibly intriguing,
and do wonders for helping the reader understand the various ways these killers
could stalk their prey so successfully, while evading capture for so long. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Serial
Killers of Russia by Wensley Clarkson is published by Welbeck, and is available
in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>A Girl with a Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777405312271573569noreply@blogger.com0