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elementarymydear's Reviews (967)
It’s no secret that I am a bit obsessed with the Tudors, so I was VERY excited to read this book – and it delivered!
The book covers the period from when Anne Boleyn first met Henry VIII, to when Elizabeth I becomes queen. It’s possibly one of the most tumultuous and exciting times in British history, and Tallis does an excellent job of exploring the effect that would have on the girl who would become one of the most memorable and influential British monarchs.
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Using extensive primary sources, we get a glimpse into the every day life of the young Elizabeth I, whether it’s her childhood routine, or her servants as a teenager. Tallis also draws on other historians’ work, especially in the areas of Elizabeth’s life where there is some speculation as to exactly what happened. I also thought she dealt with some of the more difficult topics – specifically Elizabeth’s encounter with Thomas Seymour – both sensitively and with a good balance of modern and contemporary values.
As much as this is a book about Elizabeth I, Tallis does an excellent job of laying out the full historical context. For example, Elizabeth’s relationships with each of her step-mothers was very different, and Tallis lays all of the changes and politics behind each one really clearly.
It is a thorough and well-researched non-fiction book, but it still reads almost like a thriller. It was such a page turner, I would get absorbed into it for hours at a time and the writing never once felt overly dense or difficult. While a lot of the historical context given was not new to me, it still felt fresh and enjoyable to read.
This is an excellent addition to anyone’s Tudor shelf, for both the Tudor buff and the Tudor novice.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The book covers the period from when Anne Boleyn first met Henry VIII, to when Elizabeth I becomes queen. It’s possibly one of the most tumultuous and exciting times in British history, and Tallis does an excellent job of exploring the effect that would have on the girl who would become one of the most memorable and influential British monarchs.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Using extensive primary sources, we get a glimpse into the every day life of the young Elizabeth I, whether it’s her childhood routine, or her servants as a teenager. Tallis also draws on other historians’ work, especially in the areas of Elizabeth’s life where there is some speculation as to exactly what happened. I also thought she dealt with some of the more difficult topics – specifically Elizabeth’s encounter with Thomas Seymour – both sensitively and with a good balance of modern and contemporary values.
As much as this is a book about Elizabeth I, Tallis does an excellent job of laying out the full historical context. For example, Elizabeth’s relationships with each of her step-mothers was very different, and Tallis lays all of the changes and politics behind each one really clearly.
It is a thorough and well-researched non-fiction book, but it still reads almost like a thriller. It was such a page turner, I would get absorbed into it for hours at a time and the writing never once felt overly dense or difficult. While a lot of the historical context given was not new to me, it still felt fresh and enjoyable to read.
This is an excellent addition to anyone’s Tudor shelf, for both the Tudor buff and the Tudor novice.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I’ve read a fair few short story collections recently, and usually the collection is linked by a particular theme or narrative. This is an unusual case, in that the collection is linked by a fictional setting, and I thought it worked really well!
All of the stories are set at different times in the mysterious Grimlock Cove. From the very first story we learn to expect the unexpected as strange and spooky things happen. While I would have liked a few more connections between the stories, they all definitely felt rooted in the same setting and with the same sense of mystery and creepiness. They also varied in length which I really liked, with some shorter ones to get us into the spirit (no pun intended) and some longer ones at the end with a bit more plot to them.
Overall this was a really fun read, a great introduction to Grimlock Cove and a fresh approach to the short story collection as a medium.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
It’s no secret that we live in an era of outrage. Political views are more polarised than they’ve ever been, we have the world’s information at our fingertips, and frankly our brains are not equipped to work this way.
In this book, Ashley ‘Dotty’ Charles sets out to uncover why we get so easily outraged, the effects that outrage has on its victims, and whether or not it’s actually an effective tool. A lot of this discussion was incredibly thought-provoking, and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of interviews with people we have been outraged against, specifically Rachel Dolezal and Katie Hopkins. I thought a really good balance was struck between the kind of online campaigns that are actually effective and the ones that aren’t, as well as the always-timely reminder that many people – Hopkins included – are deliberately trying to provoke outrage, and that to respond is to feed the beast.
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As with any book about social media, it was inevitably out of date within weeks of being published. Even without the knowledge of events such as the January 6th insurrection, though, there was remarkably little about right-wing outrage. I think the context of online backlash about a squint-and-it’s-racist soap advert is very different when it’s placed next to the backlash of the casting of a Black person in a TV show, and it felt like an oversight not to be included here.
Ironically, I thought there were many points that lacked a lot of nuance. In one passage for instance, the author went on a rant about what she saw as tiny, inconsequential debates (specifically whether ‘guys’ is a gender neutral term, or whether ‘nude’ should be used in fashion and beauty). Besides the tasteless hyperbole at the end which I won’t repeat here, I would have really welcome a discussion about these micro-issues, and with a book so short there was certainly room for it. My two cents is that they should be discussed and welcomed, because they force the non-marginalised group to confront pre-conceptions and assumptions they have made (I was a pre-teen when the book Noughts and Crosses first opened my eyes to ‘skin-tone’ products being designed with someone who looks like me in mind, for example). It was a short passage, but I thought it was indicative of the single-minded approach this book took.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this book feels like an extension of the article that inspired it. In many ways it’s a manifesto, or a very long opinion piece, and there were so many ideas that could have been brought in to explore the topic further. That’s not to say that it’s not worth a read, though, as it still offers a fascinating insight into our online outrage.
In this book, Ashley ‘Dotty’ Charles sets out to uncover why we get so easily outraged, the effects that outrage has on its victims, and whether or not it’s actually an effective tool. A lot of this discussion was incredibly thought-provoking, and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of interviews with people we have been outraged against, specifically Rachel Dolezal and Katie Hopkins. I thought a really good balance was struck between the kind of online campaigns that are actually effective and the ones that aren’t, as well as the always-timely reminder that many people – Hopkins included – are deliberately trying to provoke outrage, and that to respond is to feed the beast.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
As with any book about social media, it was inevitably out of date within weeks of being published. Even without the knowledge of events such as the January 6th insurrection, though, there was remarkably little about right-wing outrage. I think the context of online backlash about a squint-and-it’s-racist soap advert is very different when it’s placed next to the backlash of the casting of a Black person in a TV show, and it felt like an oversight not to be included here.
Ironically, I thought there were many points that lacked a lot of nuance. In one passage for instance, the author went on a rant about what she saw as tiny, inconsequential debates (specifically whether ‘guys’ is a gender neutral term, or whether ‘nude’ should be used in fashion and beauty). Besides the tasteless hyperbole at the end which I won’t repeat here, I would have really welcome a discussion about these micro-issues, and with a book so short there was certainly room for it. My two cents is that they should be discussed and welcomed, because they force the non-marginalised group to confront pre-conceptions and assumptions they have made (I was a pre-teen when the book Noughts and Crosses first opened my eyes to ‘skin-tone’ products being designed with someone who looks like me in mind, for example). It was a short passage, but I thought it was indicative of the single-minded approach this book took.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this book feels like an extension of the article that inspired it. In many ways it’s a manifesto, or a very long opinion piece, and there were so many ideas that could have been brought in to explore the topic further. That’s not to say that it’s not worth a read, though, as it still offers a fascinating insight into our online outrage.
The premise of this book instantly drew me in. The idea of a university specifically for “cancelled” (usually disgraced) academics to work, free from the woke agenda, opens up so many avenues and ideas.
This book is satire at its best. The start and end are biting and witty, and no one is safe! As much as the book takes a firmly left-wing standpoint, the author doesn’t shy away from making fun of all aspects of the political spectrum. In particular he pokes fun at performative woke-ness, with the main character’s husband agreeing to go to this university of outcasts, provided that they go vegan to make themselves feel better about it.
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Of course, the reality of an organisation without any kind of code of conduct is a bleak one, and soon our two main characters, Helen and Hew, find themselves morally at odds with each other. While they agree politically on many points, the book does a really good job of exploring how your environment – specifically your social life – affects your politics. Both characters are, in different ways, pushed to extreme ways of thinking, and it’s the point that they stop and draw the line that is the most telling and therefore compelling.
For much of the book Helen is trying to reconcile these two sides of the culture wars (and I’ve never been more convinced of that moniker than immediately after reading this book). I won’t spoil the conclusion the book reaches, but the journey it takes is fascinating. In many ways the political spectrum comes full circle with the figures in this book, and while the dilemmas we face in real life are (probably) not as extreme as in the book, we can still recognise ourselves in what the characters have to think about and consider.
There was excellent narration from Lauren Fortgang, who brilliantly brought Helen to life. I was desperate for any chance to listen to it, I enjoyed the experience so much.
This is a book unlike any other I’ve read, but it’s one that will stick with me for a very long time. I know it won’t be for everyone, but I think the discussion this book can inspire (from lovers and haters of it alike) is almost as interesting as the book itself.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
This book is satire at its best. The start and end are biting and witty, and no one is safe! As much as the book takes a firmly left-wing standpoint, the author doesn’t shy away from making fun of all aspects of the political spectrum. In particular he pokes fun at performative woke-ness, with the main character’s husband agreeing to go to this university of outcasts, provided that they go vegan to make themselves feel better about it.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Of course, the reality of an organisation without any kind of code of conduct is a bleak one, and soon our two main characters, Helen and Hew, find themselves morally at odds with each other. While they agree politically on many points, the book does a really good job of exploring how your environment – specifically your social life – affects your politics. Both characters are, in different ways, pushed to extreme ways of thinking, and it’s the point that they stop and draw the line that is the most telling and therefore compelling.
For much of the book Helen is trying to reconcile these two sides of the culture wars (and I’ve never been more convinced of that moniker than immediately after reading this book). I won’t spoil the conclusion the book reaches, but the journey it takes is fascinating. In many ways the political spectrum comes full circle with the figures in this book, and while the dilemmas we face in real life are (probably) not as extreme as in the book, we can still recognise ourselves in what the characters have to think about and consider.
There was excellent narration from Lauren Fortgang, who brilliantly brought Helen to life. I was desperate for any chance to listen to it, I enjoyed the experience so much.
This is a book unlike any other I’ve read, but it’s one that will stick with me for a very long time. I know it won’t be for everyone, but I think the discussion this book can inspire (from lovers and haters of it alike) is almost as interesting as the book itself.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
Just like the author, my first encounter with the legend of Tristan and Yseult (or Isolde) was through Wagner’s opera. Much like the opera, this poetry collection focuses on the emotional intensity of the story.
I always enjoy a poetry collection with a good narrative, and this one was no different! The story of Tristan and Yseult provided a great structure, giving Bonelle the chance to pick out the emotional turning points.
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The poems were varied, with lots of different structures and styles, but the underlying plot made it a cohesive read. While there were multiple perspectives, it was never confusing as to who’s point of view we were reading from. The switching perspectives also gave it a nicely cyclical feel, which made for a very satisfying read.
This is a mythological retelling unlike any other, and an impressive debut from a talented poet.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I always enjoy a poetry collection with a good narrative, and this one was no different! The story of Tristan and Yseult provided a great structure, giving Bonelle the chance to pick out the emotional turning points.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The poems were varied, with lots of different structures and styles, but the underlying plot made it a cohesive read. While there were multiple perspectives, it was never confusing as to who’s point of view we were reading from. The switching perspectives also gave it a nicely cyclical feel, which made for a very satisfying read.
This is a mythological retelling unlike any other, and an impressive debut from a talented poet.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
This collection of short stories takes its inspiration from famous artworks throughout history. While the stories all have different settings, time periods, and sometimes genres, they are thematically linked.
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I really enjoyed this approach to a short story collection. From many different angles the author examined the titular themes of art and obsession. It was an unusual approach but I thought it worked brilliantly! It leant into the strengths of the book’s structure, and made for a very cohesive collection.
There was a really good variety between the stories, both in genre and in length. I particularly liked the multi-part Vanitas, with its renaissance Italy setting. Composition #5 was also a favourite of mine, in the way it explored the darker side of the muse-artist relationship.
Overall this is an excellent collection of stories, unlike any other!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
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I really enjoyed this approach to a short story collection. From many different angles the author examined the titular themes of art and obsession. It was an unusual approach but I thought it worked brilliantly! It leant into the strengths of the book’s structure, and made for a very cohesive collection.
There was a really good variety between the stories, both in genre and in length. I particularly liked the multi-part Vanitas, with its renaissance Italy setting. Composition #5 was also a favourite of mine, in the way it explored the darker side of the muse-artist relationship.
Overall this is an excellent collection of stories, unlike any other!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
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As familiar as I am with Maria Callas as a singer, I never knew anything about her personal life – up until now!
The supporting cast in Maria’s life, and by extension this book, are quite something to behold. She is in circles with Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and more icons of the mid-20th Century.
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This particular book looks at Maria’s relationship with Aristotle Onassis, from their first meeting to when he marries a widowed Jackie Kennedy. For Maria, this is the first time something (or someone) has mattered more to her than her art. It’s a gripping story, and because we know from the start that it doesn’t have a happy ending, there is a sense of looming dread across the whole book.
Maria is often profoundly unlikeable, but you can’t help but love her. She is dramatic but also earnest, sometimes callous and not particularly self-aware, but with a more than admirable passion for her art. I found the scene when she hears of Marilyn Monroe’s death not just moving but also an insight into her tender side, as she mourns not just the woman but also the potential of a true friend and kindred spirit.
As readers, we get an insight into Onassis’ true colours before Maria does, and yet we can still see what Maria sees in him. Even as she slowly realises more about his true character, it is easy to understand her reasons for staying with him. The author gives us such a great insight into Maria’s emotions, no matter how contradictory they may be.
The book is excellently narrated by Lorelai King, who has mastered a huge range of accents and transports us to mid-20th Century high society. There’s also the lovely addition of some excerpts of Maria Callas herself singing between the sections (or “Acts”) of the book, which are a great finishing touch.
As much as this book will appeal to opera fans, I think it has a much farther reach than that, as its story is in equal parts unique and universal.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The supporting cast in Maria’s life, and by extension this book, are quite something to behold. She is in circles with Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and more icons of the mid-20th Century.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
This particular book looks at Maria’s relationship with Aristotle Onassis, from their first meeting to when he marries a widowed Jackie Kennedy. For Maria, this is the first time something (or someone) has mattered more to her than her art. It’s a gripping story, and because we know from the start that it doesn’t have a happy ending, there is a sense of looming dread across the whole book.
Maria is often profoundly unlikeable, but you can’t help but love her. She is dramatic but also earnest, sometimes callous and not particularly self-aware, but with a more than admirable passion for her art. I found the scene when she hears of Marilyn Monroe’s death not just moving but also an insight into her tender side, as she mourns not just the woman but also the potential of a true friend and kindred spirit.
As readers, we get an insight into Onassis’ true colours before Maria does, and yet we can still see what Maria sees in him. Even as she slowly realises more about his true character, it is easy to understand her reasons for staying with him. The author gives us such a great insight into Maria’s emotions, no matter how contradictory they may be.
The book is excellently narrated by Lorelai King, who has mastered a huge range of accents and transports us to mid-20th Century high society. There’s also the lovely addition of some excerpts of Maria Callas herself singing between the sections (or “Acts”) of the book, which are a great finishing touch.
As much as this book will appeal to opera fans, I think it has a much farther reach than that, as its story is in equal parts unique and universal.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
This is an unusual book, in that it is in fact two novellas, following two people in the aftermath of their relationship. While the two stories were very different in many ways, they also complemented each other in many ways.
First we have the original Waiting for the Flood, which tells the story of the nervous, bookish Edwin. His unexpected meeting with civil engineer Adam shakes up his life following the end of his decade-long relationship, and he soon finds himself falling for Adam.
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Edwin’s story was so heartfelt and tender, and I couldn’t help but feel for him at every turn! Their romance was so compelling, and it was the sort of story where you could lose yourself in the book completely. The writing style was much more lyrical than Alexis Hall’s usual style, and I really enjoyed it – and it provided a pleasant contrast to the other story.
Speaking of! Chasing the Light follows Marius, Edwin’s ex-boyfriend. With Edwin being clearly the wronged party, I was dubious going into this story, but luckily Alexis Hall is excellent at writing an unlikeable protagonist! Even though he made me angry and frustrated, I couldn’t help but root for him and want him to figure things out. His romance was in many ways a lot more tentative, with a lot more missteps (both literally and figuratively), and this gave him a really strong character arc.
This is an excellent pair of novellas, about second chances in love.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
First we have the original Waiting for the Flood, which tells the story of the nervous, bookish Edwin. His unexpected meeting with civil engineer Adam shakes up his life following the end of his decade-long relationship, and he soon finds himself falling for Adam.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Edwin’s story was so heartfelt and tender, and I couldn’t help but feel for him at every turn! Their romance was so compelling, and it was the sort of story where you could lose yourself in the book completely. The writing style was much more lyrical than Alexis Hall’s usual style, and I really enjoyed it – and it provided a pleasant contrast to the other story.
Speaking of! Chasing the Light follows Marius, Edwin’s ex-boyfriend. With Edwin being clearly the wronged party, I was dubious going into this story, but luckily Alexis Hall is excellent at writing an unlikeable protagonist! Even though he made me angry and frustrated, I couldn’t help but root for him and want him to figure things out. His romance was in many ways a lot more tentative, with a lot more missteps (both literally and figuratively), and this gave him a really strong character arc.
This is an excellent pair of novellas, about second chances in love.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
This was such a fun whistle-stop tour of queer villains through the ages!
The book is comprised of lots of short chapters, each one about a different figure. While the title specifies ‘myth and legend’, it actually takes a much broader scope, starting in antiquity but also discussing figures from literature, film and TV, and even some real people who have become legendary in their own right, such as Anne Bonny.
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While the majority of the characters mentioned in this book are explicitly LGBTQ+ - such as Carmilla, Dark Willow, etc – many are queer in the sense that they represent something outside the norm, or have become an icon to many in the queer community. A huge range of characters were explored, and I think it’s generally a good collection of those who have been villainised for their ‘otherness’.
The writing style reminded me a lot of tumblr back in the day: very chatty and witty, with a few sweeping generalisations here and there. While there were some points that I think would have benefitted from more nuance and depth, on the whole it made for a very entertaining read. It felt like the goal in this book is to celebrate as much as to study queer villains, and that came across in the best way!
Overall this was a fun read, that is a great go-to guide for queer villains. There are definitely some books and films I will be checking out after reading this!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The book is comprised of lots of short chapters, each one about a different figure. While the title specifies ‘myth and legend’, it actually takes a much broader scope, starting in antiquity but also discussing figures from literature, film and TV, and even some real people who have become legendary in their own right, such as Anne Bonny.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
While the majority of the characters mentioned in this book are explicitly LGBTQ+ - such as Carmilla, Dark Willow, etc – many are queer in the sense that they represent something outside the norm, or have become an icon to many in the queer community. A huge range of characters were explored, and I think it’s generally a good collection of those who have been villainised for their ‘otherness’.
The writing style reminded me a lot of tumblr back in the day: very chatty and witty, with a few sweeping generalisations here and there. While there were some points that I think would have benefitted from more nuance and depth, on the whole it made for a very entertaining read. It felt like the goal in this book is to celebrate as much as to study queer villains, and that came across in the best way!
Overall this was a fun read, that is a great go-to guide for queer villains. There are definitely some books and films I will be checking out after reading this!
I received a free copy for an honest review.