Magical multiverses. Time Travel. Mythical Creatures. For all the books out there, fantasy and science fiction make up a large portion of the existing and upcoming works of fiction that are exciting readers today, and there are hundreds of reasons as to why we so readily consume these genres. So, what is it about otherworldly... Continue Reading →
Why we love to curl up with a good book at Christmas
In the words of Frank Sinatra, “the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. Since we've no place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” This describe the traditional notion of going inside, warming up from the cold winter weather, and curling up by the fire with a... Continue Reading →
Once upon a Hallow’s Eve
The pumpkins are carved. The black cats and supernatural emerge from the shadows. The night lasts forever and the eerie thrilling chill surrounds the streets. This means that All Hallows’ Eve has rolled round again. Halloween has been a huge factor in fantasy, science fiction and mystery genres for quite sometime. One of the most... Continue Reading →
Who did it?
Murder mystery stories have been on the rise in the last couple of years, whether it’s a comedy or thriller. From films like Netflix’s Murder Mystery and Knives Out to novels including Jim Eldridge’s Museum Murder series, and the original queen of murder mysteries, Agatha Christie, it seems like we just can’t get enough of... Continue Reading →
Why We Love to Reread
An interesting penguin article commented on how Vladimir Nabokov once said, “A good reader, a major reader, and active and creative reader is a re-reader”. It raises an intriguing question. Why do we re-read our favourite books, and what makes this simple act of re-reading a book, so enjoyable, that we never get bored of those books, no... Continue Reading →
How the Girl Guides Won the War
In honour of Girl Guiding, I would like to discuss the non fiction history book detailing their war efforts. Girl Guiding, is a 111 year old movement that began in 1910, thanks to a group of girls who disguised themselves and snuck into a Scouts rally at Crystal Palace to ask Scout founder, Robert Baden-Powell... Continue Reading →
I’ve Got Goosebumps!
Who doesn’t remember R.L Stine’s Goosebumps books. I’m not much of a fan of horror or gore but I loved Goosebumps as a kid and would read the shelves upon shelves of Goosebumps books that could be found in my primary school. I still have a fondness and nostalgia for the books that helped to... Continue Reading →
Did Initial Lockdowns Have An Impact On The Nation’s Reading Habits?
When the nation was told to self isolate, and shops were forced to close, everyone began to revisit their favourite pastimes. The scent of petrichor after rain, a cosy drink and a good book has since been a treasured pastime amongst readers; and one that people appear to have revisited during lockdown. It appears lockdown... Continue Reading →
To Read or Not to Read
There are three things that unite readers, a love of books, a love of words and most importantly, a loving of reading for pleasure. Reading for pleasure is a tale as old as time, reading not out of necessity or requirement but reading because we love to read books. In a world where stories have... Continue Reading →
Tracey Rolfe Completes the White Witch of Spiton Series with ‘The Sisters of Estella’
Waltham Abbey Author Tracey Rolfe, has released the sixth book in The White Witch of Spiton series, ‘The Sisters of Estella’. Rolfe, 54, said: “The Sixth book [in the White Witch of Spiton series) was the hardest book to write, because there’s loads of different twists and turns” for her characters. Plus “it’s a sixth... Continue Reading →
the girl and the city of books 