Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Book Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Title- Where the Crawdads Sing 

Author- Delia Owens

Series- N/A

Published- 2018

Page Count- 368 pages 

Publishing House- Corsair 

Genre- Coming of Age, Mystery, Historical Fiction

Rating- 3/5 stars 

About the Author

Delia Owens is the co-author of three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist in Africa including Cry of the Kalahari.

She has won the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing and has been published in Nature, The African Journal of Ecology, and many others.

She currently lives in Idaho. Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel.

Taken from Delia's website. 

Plot

For years, rumours of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.

But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world–until the unthinkable happens.

In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a profound coming of age story and haunting mystery. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens’s debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

The story asks how isolation influences the behaviour of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.

Taken from Goodreads.

Opinions 

Before we get into this review, I have to highlight that shortly before I read this it came to my attention of the problematic content surrounding this book. I'd advise you to do further reading into it, but here's a link to an article I read about it which I'd recommend. You can read it here. Alternatively, you can just Google Where the Crawdads Sing Problematic and it will link you to a host of articles on this subject. 

After learning of the problematic content surrounding this book, I will admit that it tainted my reading experience. It is important to be aware when there is something wrong with a book or author, but I think it made me think that I wouldn't be allowed to like this book. I read two chapters in two days, then ended up flying through the rest of the book. I think next time, I will read up about issues surrounding books after I've read them. It will allow me to make my own opinions on issues rather than forcing myself to believe something I'm not informed about. 

I think the main reason I struggled to get into this book was the writing style. It just wasn't for me in the end. I personally found it too flowery and descriptive at times. That was a key part of the book, but it just ended up loosing me at points. However, I think this was just a personal preference rather than a critique against the author. 

The reason I gave this book three stars was because I actually enjoyed the middle section. I didn't want to put it down. Once we got to the court case section, that was when my interest really peaked. It took a very long time to get there, but once we were there, I really enjoyed it. It was just a shame I didn't like the beginning or end of this book. 

I am not a huge romance fan, but the romances in this book were handled very badly. Kya and Tate would have been a far more meaningful relationship if they had stayed friends. I liked their friendship, but why did it have to develop into a romance? Chase and Kya was just toxic. One thing I think that the author handled well in regards to the romance, was Kya's reactions to the betrayals and hurt she faced throughout the book. It felt realistic. Aside from that, I struggled with the romances. 

Quite possibly my least favourite part of this book was the ending. The two reveals angered me. Firstly, even though the book was mostly from Kya's perspective, it was revealed that Kya killed Chase. She maintained her innocence and that she couldn't have killed him. It was very clearly established that she couldn't have killed him. Yet, somehow she did. I was furious. A reviewer on Goodreads said something along the lines of by doing this, the author has basically undermined her whole story for a twist at the end. The other reveal angered me just as much. Throughout the book, Kya quotes poetry from a favourite author, who just turns out to be her. It just felt lazy. I have never felt so angry about the ending of a book before.   

I think it goes without saying, but I found this book okay. I will not be keeping it, especially after that awful ending. 

What did you think of Where the Crawdads Sing?

Carenza :)x 

How to Stay Creatively Motivated| Carenza Bramwell

As the world continues to stay bleak and depressing, it can be hard to stay motivated. Something I've spotted in the past year is that it can be hard to stay creatively motivated when the world feels so gloomy. I study creative writing, I create content online and work on a student magazine, my whole life revolves around being creative. Yet, with the latest lockdown the UK finds itself in has drained me of all my creativity. In today's blog post, I thought I would share some thoughts and tips on how I stay motivated to create when I really don't feel inspired.

I just want to preface this post with that there are times when I don't follow my own advice. There are times when I don't feel I can. It's important to acknowledge that there are times when things aren't as easy as we'd like. Only try and follow these tips if you feel able to.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Something I've been trying to do when I start to feel creatively demotivated, especially of late, is to acknowledge my feelings. We are living through a pandemic, these aren't normal times, it's alright to not feel normal. I am not a mental health professional, but I would say it's okay to feel frustrated, worried, scared, whatever you are feeling. I had a huge motivation boost after Christmas, but as soon as lockdown hit again, I could barely do the work I wanted to do. Instead of trying to make myself do the work when I was in no shape to do so, I took some time to acknowledge my feelings. By taking this step, even though I wouldn't say I'm back at full motivation levels, I've been able to chip away at my workload.  

Revisit Inspirations and Favourites 

When lacking motivation, a tip I would recommend is to revisit inspirations and favourites. I get inspired and motivated from the creative pieces I love. This could be a book, TV show, film, whatever, but I like to surround myself with it. To me, it's a happy reminder that people can go onto create great things. Often after revisiting something I love it makes me want to go on and create something. I would also recommend looking at some creative/motivational quotes. Again, it's a positive reminder that you can and will go onto work on something you're proud of.   

Break It Into Manageable Chunks

Let's face it, but we aren't going to write our masterpieces in a day or a week. It takes a lot of time. It can be overwhelming when you are lacking motivation to start a task that seems insurmountable. So breaking it into smaller chunks can help with motivation. It can be to write a hundred words or a certain amount of pages. I find that breaking bigger tasks into smaller chunks makes me more likely to work on it. If something feels too big, then I won't want to work on it. Take the time to work out how you are going to approach the task. Then let the words/creativity come to you.  

You Don't Have to Be Creative Everyday  

Something I am trying to learn is that you don't have to be creative everyday. It's okay to give yourself time to feel mentally refreshed before retuning to a project. This is similar to what I was saying in the first point. Creativity takes a lot of mental thinking, so let yourself feel mentally ready to be creative. Just like more "traditional" career paths and interests, it is key to take time away. I try to take one day a week away from doing anything creative. It gives me that time to process and refresh before diving back into whatever I'm working on. 

Those are some tips and thoughts on how to stay creatively motivated when times are difficult. Do you have any tips and thoughts on what's been discussed in this blog post?

Carenza :) x  

The Queen's Gambit TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images

Title- The Queen's Gambit 

Creators- Scott Frank and Allan Scott, based on The Queen's Gambit by  Walter Tevis

Cast- Anya Taylor- Joy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Marielle Heller, Harry Melling and more 

Genre- period drama

Length- seven episodes

Platform- Netflix 

Rating- 5/5 stars 

Plot

The Queen's Gambit is a 2020 American coming-of-age period drama miniseries based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel of the same name. It was written and directed by Scott Frank, who created it with Allan Scott. Beginning in the mid-1950s and proceeding into the 1960s, the story follows the life of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphaned chess prodigy on her rise to the top of the chess world while struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. 

Taken from Wikipedia. 

Opinions

Everyone had been talking about The Queen's Gambit for a while. It came out towards the end of October, but I just hadn't got around to watching it. We needed a new TV show to watch, so we finally decided to watch this. It is a binge worthy show. At the end of each episode, you will want to continue watching. We watched this in about two-three days. You don't need to know much, if anything about chess. All you need is to care about the central character. I finished it about a week ago and I can't stop thinking about it. 

Taken from Google Images

As it's been adapted from a book, I'd love to read it. I know that there are actually three books in the series but I think only one has been adapted for the show. I just need more of this show and world in my life. It's very high up my TBR and to be purchased list of books. 

A key theme of the show is trauma. Beth goes through a lot of trauma. She looses her biological mother as a child, before loosing her adoptive mother in her teens. I felt, and I know a lot of people have felt the same, that the way trauma is shown is one of the best. It's a gradual decent rather a complete downwards spiral. Her trauma pushes her towards drug and alcohol abuse. Again these issues were handled well. Her abuse was linked to how she viewed chess. It felt realistic compared to other depictions in the media. The way these themes were handled made you care for Beth. 

Taken from Google Images

Quite possibly a favourite element of the show was the relationship between Beth and Benny. Beth obviously had important relationships with Townes and Beltik, but it came nowhere near her relationship with Benny. The two had very similar outlooks towards chess. Their relationship starting from a respectful one to a mentorship to a romantic one felt smooth. It needed to happen. Benny was ten years (I think) older than her but waited until she was an adult to become interested in her. You could see it in his clothing that he cared more. Beth wore a lot of black polo necks, so Benny started wearing them. A lot of fans are sad that we didn't get to see more from their romantic relationship, all we saw was a few exchanges, but it felt right to them. They clearly care for each other but they don't need to show it explicitly. When Benny and the others phoned her in Russia with how to beat her opponent, it was one of the sweetest moments in the show. They had great chemistry. 

Taken from Google Images

Another relationship I adored was that between Beth and her adoptive mother, Alma. At first after her adoptive father abandons them, I thought it was going to be a bad relationship. I thought Alma would use her for the money, but it actually grew to be a loving and supporting one. Alma may not have understood chess, but cared enough for Beth. This was quite a unique relationship for two women to have and I'm very glad they showed it. I was gutted when Alma died, but did see it coming. She was the mother figure Beth needed after her biological mother abandoned her by killing herself. A wholesome, supportive relationship between two lost women that was tragically cut short. 

I really like behind the scenes elements. The soundtrack was incredible, adding to each scene so that you could understand the drama of the moment if you were not a chess player. The costume design was amazing. I watched a behind the scenes video that explained that green was a key colour to Beth. It was the colour of the drugs she took and whenever she lost, she wore green. Benny slowly transforming from a pirate to an ordinary person. The set designs were also breathtaking. It was just a very well designed show.

Taken from Google Images

I had thought that in her final match to become the chess world champion, Beth would loose. It's what made sense to me. We had seen her triumph over and over, so to loose when she had it all was the right thing to do. Having Beth win the match, while not a surprise, worked. We needed to see her loose a few times to make this win more satisfying. The ending with her dressed in white to look like the white queen on the chess board was wonderful. We didn't need to see her reunited with Benny and the others. Having Beth play chess for fun with those Russian men was an incredibly satisfying end. 

That concludes my review of The Queen's Gambit, which I adored. I will probably rewatch again at some point and can't wait to read the book. What did you think of The Queen's Gambit?

Carenza :) x     

Most Anticipated Releases of 2021| Carenza Bramwell

I know I'm a bit late to posting this, but I've complied a small list of books I'm looking forward to reading in 2021. I'm also going to include an honourable mentions section as I'm trying to be quite select with what books I buy this year.

Most Anticipated 

Liberte by Gita Trelease- February 18th 

Taken from Google Images

The sequel to Enchante in 2019, this is a YA urban fantasy set in revolutionary France. I remember really enjoying Enchante when I read it, but will have to admit that a reread is required. Revolutionary France is one of my favourite historical periods, so after my reread, I know I'll dive straight into this one. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare- March 1st

Taken from Google Images

It will come as no surprise as I'm a huge Cassandra Clare fan, but a book I'm really looking forward to is Chain of Iron. This is the sequel to Chain of Gold, which is the first book in a new series. This follows the children of The Infernal Devices and their adventures in Edwardian London. Chain of Gold was a book I loved and I will probably reread it before Chain of Iron. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston- June 6th  

Taken from Google Images

Casey wrote a book I really enjoyed in 2019, Red, White and Royal Blue. Her latest novel follows a young woman who falls in love with someone she meets on the subway and discovers they are from the 1970s. Casey writes great LGBT comedies. This one comes out in time for summer in hardback, so if you're looking for an LGBT rom-com, then look no further. Just to preface but Casey's books are not YA, they do have explicit sex scenes so be aware of that. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.   

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman- June 13th

Taken from Google Images

Alice is a favourite writer of mine, so another volume in the Heartstopper series will automatically go on my most anticipated list. This graphic novel series follows Charlie and Nick, two boys who fall in love. It goes from their relationship starting to in this instalment, being ready to say I love you to each other. Alice is an incredible writer and illustrator. Each instalment gets better and better. They do tackle important issues such as mental health. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.     

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson- June 15th 

Taken from Google Images

This is a spin-off novel from the Truly Devious world. It follows Stevie on her first case as a detective outside of that world. I reread the first two books so I could finish the series, reading the trilogy in just over a week. These a fun and easy mysteries. I've read another book from Maureen, which was just as enjoyable so if you're looking for a fun and addictive mystery, look no further. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin- August 8th 

Taken from Google Images

Quite possibly my most anticipated release is Gods&Monsters by Shelby Mahurin, the final book in the Serpent&Dove series. I adored the first book, but not the second one. I really hope this series has a good conclusion as it deserves one. I will most likely reread the series in the lead up to it's release. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Honourable Mentions

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas- January 12th

Taken from Google Images

This is already out, but it's a prequel to The Hate U Give. I read and loved that book back in 2017. This follows Starr's father as he becomes teen father. Like many books on this list, I think THUG is due a reread around the time I read this. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Girl A by Abigail Dean- January 21st

Taken from Google Images

I stumbled across this book while reading a BBC article about upcoming releases for the year. It's about a young woman raised in abusive, horrific household and what happens when her mother dies in prison. I'm trying to read more adult/modern literature, so this sounds right up my alley. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

The Project by Courtney Summers- February 2nd

Taken from Google Images

Sadie was a favourite book of mine in 2019, so to find out Courtney has a new book coming out is very exciting. This one is about a young woman raised in a cult and returning to investigate. If it is anything like Sadie, it will be a book you won't want to put down. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo- March 18th

Taken from Google Images

This is an LGBT historical romance novel set in San Fransisco in the 50s. It follows a lesbian couple looking for somewhere to spend one last evening together before the other is deported. It also tackles the attitudes towards communism at the time. I've really gotten into historical fiction lately, so this sounds like something I'll really enjoy. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid- May 27th

Taken from Google Images

Taylor is a beloved writer of mine, so of course I had to put her newest release on here. Set in the 1980s across one evening, it follows four rich siblings as they throw their annual end of year summer. Across this one evening, secrets will be spilled and by the morning, their relationship won't be the same. Cannot wait for it to come out. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalia Harris- June 1st

Taken from Google Images

Similar to Girl A, I found this book on that BBC article. A satire and thriller rolled into one, it follows two black women working together in a mostly white environment. At first they get along, but strange things start happening around the office and it becomes a race to find out who did it. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson- July 1st

Taken from Google Images

Leah wrote You Should See Me In A Crown, a YA LGBT black girl romance that I really enjoyed. This one is about two teenage girls who meet at a music festival and their lives are changed forever. If it's as fun and fluffy as the previous one, then this will be another hit. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong- November 16th

The sequel to These Violent Delights, a 1920s urban fantasy Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai. I have mixed feelings about the first book, but I'm curious to find out how this duology ends. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here.  

The Black Volume of the Dead by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu- N/A 

The conclusion to the Eldest Curses series, the Magnus and Alec spin-off series, comes out at some point in 2021. I like this series, not as much as some of the main series, but am happy to read more about Magnus and Alec. To read the plot summary on Goodreads, click here. 

That concludes my most anticipated list for 2021. What are some books you are looking forward to?

Carenza :) x 

What I've Been Watching Recently- Christmas Edition| Carenza Bramwell

Welcome to the final what I've been watching recently for 2020. This is most likely the final one overall as I am thinking of moving more towards reviews and opinion pieces rather than these long lists. From late September to the end of the year, I didn't watch as much as I've been very busy with university. 

TV 

Fleabag

One of my favourite shows of all time, I actually rewatched it twice in 2020. Once by myself and once with my housemates. This show is incredible and I haven't watched anything quite like it. I can't stop talking about it. Will always be a favourite for me. 

The Living and the Dead

Another rewatch for me. The Living and the Dead is a Halloween/Spooky season show that I have to watch every October. It's a historical paranormal drama. If you are looking for a spooky, historical drama with a great cast and superb soundtrack, then look no further. 

Miracle Workers

This is a show one of my housemates enjoyed so we decided to watch it as a group. I enjoyed the first season more than the second. A solid show, but I did find the characters two similar between the series. There were some funny moment, but mostly it was an okay show. I will probably watch the third series.

Ghosts

Ghosts has become one of my favourite shows. It's from the Horrible Histories team. It's a sitcom about a young couple who inherit a house haunted by ghosts. I have loved every single episode and I cannot wait for the next series. If you are looking for something lighthearted at the moment, I'd recommend this.

You, Me and the Apocalypse

A rewatch for me after watching ghosts was You, Me and the Apocalypse. This is a short lived show about what happens at the end of the world. I loved it when I watched in 2016 and I loved it when I watched in 2020. I'm still very sad that it never got a second series. 

Avenue 5

Next, I watched Avenue 5, a sitcom about people from the future stuck on a cruise in space. Another enjoyable show. There were some really good performances. I would definitely watch the second series whenever it comes out. 

Breeders

A show I was very excited to watch was Breeders, by Martin Freeman. This is a show about parenthood and how people struggle with it. It had some solid moments. It's another one that I would consider watching the second series of when it drops. 

The Sister

Sadly, a show I did not enjoy was The Sister. This is a murder mystery crime show about a man involved in a young women's death and how he has hidden involvement in it. There were no shocks or good twists. I just didn't care for the characters. It was just a bit disappointing as a show. 

Schitt's Creek

Going from something I didn't like from something that is my favourite show of the year, Schitt's Creek. I have watched it three times. By far my favourite show. I have taken to walking around the house going "ewww David". Very happy I decided to watch this show as it brought some joy to my 2020.  

Films

Spirited Away

I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan, so I finally watched Spirited Away. It's a classic Studio Ghibli film so it was time I watched. I really enjoyed it. Very happy I finally watched it and it was something I had to watch for uni. 

Whiplash

Another film I had to watch for uni was Whiplash. I am a fan of Damien Chazelle's work, but Whiplash was a very difficult film to watch. The two central performances were incredible. The story was not something I'd normally enjoy. I needed to watch something happier after that film.  

Coraline

Halloween is one of my favourite times of year, so naturally the next three films are Halloween ones. The first is Coraline, which I loved when it came out in 2009. We put it on in the background as we worked on some Halloween arts and crafts. I'm still ashamed that I've never read the book, but I love the film so much I think that it's okay. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Every year since I started uni in 2018, my friend and I have tried to watch this film. Finally, in my final Halloween at uni we managed it. I adore this film. It's a staple of my Halloween. It's very good and makes my Halloween. 

Beetlejuice

A film I had never seen was Beetlejuice. It's another classic Halloween film. However, I feel I'd have enjoyed it more if I grew up with it. It just wasn't my sort of film. There were some very good moments, but overall I didn't enjoy it that much. 

Zodiac

I had been introduced to David Fincher's work by one of my lecturers and had started watching Mindhunter on Netflix (which I still need to finish), so my family and I watched Zodiac. This is about the Zodiac killer. An atmospheric film with some solid performances. I would like to watch more of Fincher's work.  

Palm Springs

A film I had wanted to watch ever since I saw the trailer for it was Palm Springs. It's a rom-com about two people stuck in an endless time-loop. Sounds very familiar at this point. It was one of my favourite films of the year. It comes out on Amazon Prime later this year. If you like Groundhog style comedies, then I'd recommend this.

The Princess Bride

My housemates go to comfort film is The Princess Bride. This is a film I had never seen. We decided to watch it as with the way things are we both needed a pick me up. I see why this is a well beloved film. It's cosy and fun. It takes a lot to make me laugh, but this film made me laugh. Would love to watch it again and am very interested in reading the book. 

Onwards

The latest Pixar film was finally available on Disney+. Every now and then a Disney/Pixar film hits the spot. This was another solid film from Pixar. I have spotted that an alarming amount of Pixar films deal with death and this was no exception. I loved the central relationship between the two brothers. I'd watch it again and it's made me want to watch the new Pixar film, Soul. 

Happiest Season

This has become my new favourite Christmas film. It's a gay Christmas film about two young women. I felt it tackled some really difficult issues really well. I loved the chemistry between Kristin Stewarts' character and Daniel Levy's. The had the sweetest friendship. I know it will become a film I watch year after year. 

Anna and the Apocalypse

Another favourite Christmas film is Anna and the Apocalypse. This is a Christmas zombie musical comedy. Think La La Land and Shaun of the Dead had a baby. I have watched every year since 2018. I have listened to the soundtrack so many times, it's another one I have the soundtrack for on vinyl. If you are looking for a slightly more offbeat Christmas film, then look no further. 

Love, Actually 

My final film for 2020 was Love, Actually. This is another Christmas film I watch year after year. It's a classic. It's just a really good Christmas comedy. It doesn't feel like Christmas if I don't watch this film.

That concludes my last ever what I've been watching recently post. What are some stand out films and TV shows from 2020?

Carenza :) x 

Best Films and TV Shows of 2020

2020 was the year I fell in love with films and TV shows. I watched more than I have ever watched in a single year. It was the year I realised that this was the area I'd like to work in after graduating. I've gone through the very long list of things I watched and picked my favourites. There is also a very small honourable mentions sections. 

Films

Palm Springs 

I had wanted to watch this for a while and it did not disappoint. It's a rom-com sci-fi film about two people stuck in a Groundhog-esque time loop. Sounds familiar? Two people doomed to live the same day over and over. It stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as the two people stuck in the time loop. Not only is the premise funny, but the two central characters are. It came out almost a year ago, but it's still being talked about. I think thing I liked about it the most was how realistic the characters felt. They were flawed, which felt refreshing. It's a film I can see myself rewatching soon. 

Booksmart

This is another film I had wanted to watch for a while and was very happy when it dropped on Amazon Prime in spring 2020. It's about two traditionally goody two shoes students going wild on their final night of high school. Naturally chaos ensues. It's made by a predominately female creative team, which I loved. It was a film I could relate to a lot. Again it's one I could see myself rewatching and enjoying. A solid coming of age story with comedic moments and ones that tackled more serious issues. A great film about two young women and their friendship.  

Little Women

The last film I saw in a cinema before the world went to shit. Greta Gerwig is a favourite writer-director of mine. I had never read Little Women before I saw the film and I'm glad that I saw it first. A positive story of four young women growing up. Beautiful writing and directing. Stunning performances. The cinematography is amazing. I have seen it twice. It's a cosy film to watch. I look forward to whatever Greta works on next as I have the upmost faith in her. 

TV Shows

Schitt's Creek

My favourite TV show of the year was a late discovery and that is Schitt's Creek. If you follow me on Twitter, then you will probably be sick to death of me talking about how much I love this show. It's about the Rose family who go from Kim Kardashian level of wealth to loosing everything and having to move into a motel in Schitt's Creek, the town they own. It's wholesome. It's funny. It has one of the best LGBT+ relationships I've ever seen. It rightly won the emmy's it did. I have watched it three times between November 1st and January 5th. It's my go to comfort show. I think it's safe to say that I love it.

Ghosts

The latest project from Team Horrible Histories, I had watched the first series in 2019, but with the second series released in 2020, I watched it all. Another wholesome comedy show. If you were a fan of Horrible Histories growing up, then I'd recommend this. It's about a young couple that inherit an old house filled with the ghosts of people who have died there, played by the Horrible Histories troupe, who have also written the show. The Christmas special was amazing and I can't wait for series three. 

The Mandalorian

I would describe myself as a passive Star Wars fan. I have seen the films, I get quite excited when a new one comes out, but I don't know that much about the universe. If truth be told, the only I wanted to watch it for Baby Yoda. I was therefore pleasantly surprised when I ended up loving it. I feel it's something you can enjoy if you're not a die-hard fan. The relationship between the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda was adorable. The ending of Season Two had me gasping out-loud. Looking forward to Season Three.  

The Witcher

After seeing a lot of people talking about it on Twitter and having some friends tell me to watch it, I decided to watch The Witcher. I hadn't been that interested in it, but soon became hooked. I have watched it twice this year. Jaskier is my favourite character. Geralt is good, but I'd take Jaskier over him any day. I have listened to the soundtrack more times than I care to admit. I picked up the books because of it, which I'm not as big a fan of. Buzzing for series two, whenever it finally drops. 

Sex Education 

Sex Education was a favourite of mine in 2019, so unsurprisingly series two was a huge hit. It's another show that feels refreshing. It also tackled some really important issues. Like every other show on this list, I can't wait for series three. Maeve Wiley is still a favourite character of mine. I also now own the soundtrack on vinyl. 

Honourable Mentions

This is the honourable mentions section, with things I enjoyed but didn't love as much and a brief sentence on why I liked them. 

• Fresh Meat- university comedy that made me appreciate my time at university (I'm still a student), especially during the current situation
• The Good Place- comedy about people in the afterlife, wholesome show with the perfect ending
• Euphoria- drama about American teenagers, tackling issues such as drug addiction, loved the performances and writing, can't wait to watch the next series 
• 1917- war drama about WW1, told through one continuous shot, beautiful piece of cinematography
• Knives Out- crime comedy, one of these best murder mysteries I've seen, buzzing for the sequel
• Parasite- the Oscar winner for 2020, gripping from beginning to end, would love to watch more from the creator

That concludes my best of films and TV shows for 2020. What were some of your favourite films and TV shows from 2020?

Carenza :) x 

What I've Been Reading Recently- Christmas Edition| Carenza Bramwell

My final reading wrap up for 2020. Between the months of November and December, I read 12 books. December was the best reading month I've had since July-August. As it was the Christmas period, you will see some Christmas books on my list. 

November

In November, I only managed to read 4 books. I was really struggling to find time to read with my uni work and general lack of motivation. Here are the four books I did read that month. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

This book restored my faith in VE Schwab as a writer after a couple of bad experiences with her, which included actually donating one of her books (which I know regret, especially as it was signed). I have a full review of my thoughts on Addie LaRue, which you can read here. But to summarise, I loved this book. I plan on revisiting the VE Scwab books that I own and am very excited for the Addie LaRue film adaptation. I gave it 4.5/stars.   

Mythos by Stephen Fry

I went into this expecting it to be a fictions retelling of famous Greek myths, but it was in fact Stephen Fry's non-fiction on them. He is someone I admire, so I wanted to try his writing. I did enjoy it, finding his take both informative and funny. I have since ordered the remaining books in the series. It's broadened my interesting learning more about mythology. I gave it 4/5 stars. 

Cows Can't Jump by Philip Bowne

Next I read a book I was sent through my university magazine. This tells the story of 18 year old Billy, who falls in love with a girl and chases her across Europe. It has the backdrop of Brexit and Trump being elected. I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I found it funny, but at times struggled to engage with the story. As far as debut novels go, it was a solid attempt. I think in the end it just wasn't for me. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

My final read of November was The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Having really enjoyed the Legend series, I figured I would fly through this one too. Sadly, I just didn't enjoy this one as much. It's one I have a full review for, which you can read here. I found the main character annoying and struggled to connect with the plot. It goes without saying but I will not be continuing the series. I gave it 3/5 stars. 

December

In December, I read 8 books, my best reading month since the summer. I did reread three books. I'm very happy to finish the year on such a high. 

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

My first read of the month was These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. This is a YA historical urban fantasy retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Shanghai in the 1920s. It sounded like something I adored. I have a full review with all my thoughts, which you can read here. I loved the characters and the setting, but found myself uninterested with the plot. I will read the sequel as I want to find out what happens, but the plot just lost me. I gave it 3.5/5 stars. 

This Winter by Alice Oseman

Next I read my first Christmas read and that was the last novella in the Heartstopper/Solitaire series by Alice Oseman. This is set before Solitaire but after Heartstopper. It follows the Spring family one Christmas. It does tackle a serious issue of eating disorders. I have really enjoyed every instalment in this series and this was no exception. I gave it 4/5 stars.  

Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrave

I saw this online and when I was in Waterstones with my mum, I just had to get it. This was a fun, slightly silly Christmas read. As the title suggests, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are called to solve a Christmas themed mystery. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable book. My only issue was that I didn't particularly enjoy the ending. I gave it 4/5 stars.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

I then began my reread of the Truly Devious series as a recap for the third book. I found it just as fun and entertaining as the first time I read it. Maureen is really good at writing crime books. I flew through this books as her writing is just addictive. I gave it 4/5 stars.

The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

Next in the series was The Vanishing Stair. My feelings towards this one are very similar to my feelings for Truly Devious. Another fun and enjoyable book in this series. I gave it 4/5 stars.

The Hand On the Wall by Maureen Johnson

This was the first book in the series that I wasn't rereading. Overall, I found it an okay conclusion to the series. Some of the twists along the way were shocking, but the actual ending wasn't what I hoped it would be. I know there is a spin off novel coming out this year, which you can bet I will be getting. Despite the let down ending, I still gave this book 4/5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JKR

My final reread of 2020 was to finish the Harry Potter series I had started as a part of a community readathon in April. Obviously, with all the controversy surrounding JKR, the readathon was cancelled. I finished it myself as I couldn't stand not finishing the series. I will now probably not pick these books up for a very long time as I'm unsure where I stand with Harry Potter.  

Frank Get the Door by Janey Godley 

My final read of 2020 was a short, funny book I got for Christmas. Janey is a Scottish comedian, who throughout lockdown, has been dubbing press conferences from the First Minister of Scotland with comedic versions. Just google it and you'll have a laugh. They released this book, which is a transcribed account of the majority of the speeches. A highly funny read, it's one I'd recommend if you want something a bit lighthearted. I gave it 4/5 stars.

That concludes my final wrap up for 2020. I will be continuing this series in 2021 as I have enjoyed documenting my reads throughout the year.

Carenza :)x 

Best Books of 2020| Carenza Bramwell

As 2020 is officially over (hurrah!), it is time to reflect on the best books of the year. I read 75 books in 2020, which is something I am proud of as I was in a bit of a reading slump for most of 2020. I will admit that there are very few books I loved, so most of the entries on this list are books I enjoyed and really stood out to me.  

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

It will come as no surprise that one of the only five star reads on this list is Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare. Cassie is an auto-buy author for me. I have loved her books for almost eight years now. Being brutally honest, this wasn't my favourite one I've read, but I'll reserve judgement until I've read the whole series. I have a full review, which you can read here. I throughly enjoyed being back in this world and will always be excited for the next Cassie Clare book.  

The Diviners by Libba Bray 

This might be a new favourite series, but I read the entire Diviners series in 2020. My favourite though, without a shadow of a doubt, was the first book. It had everything I wanted in it. There were moments when I was genuinely scared. Evie, Sam and Henry (and the remaining Diviners) are some of my favourite characters. Again, this is another one I gave five stars to and have a review for, which you can read here. If you are looking for a YA historical paranormal book set in the 1920s, then this is the book for you. 

You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson 

The only YA contemporary to make it onto this list. I'm not usually a fan of gush romance, but this was an LGBTQIA+ black girl romance. It was sweet and funny, yet it also tackled some serious issues such as racism and homophobia. It was the perfect summer contemporary. I know Leah has another book coming out this year, which I will be reading as soon as it's released. I gave it 4/5 stars.  

The Confession by Jessie Burton 

I was debating which of Jessie's books to put on this list as I adored both The Muse and The Confession, but this one had to win. I read it in about two days, which for me at the moment, is very impressive. Jessie writes very strong feminist books, with historical mysteries at there core. I couldn't put this book down, I wanted to know what happened next. I hope she has another book coming out soon as I can't wait to dive into it. I gave it 4/5 stars. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

This is the book that restored my faith in VE Schwab and has convinced me to give her books another go. I loved it. I am so buzzed for the film adaptation that Schwab herself is working on. I have been a big fan of faustian retellings for a while, but this one was amazing. Spread over three hundred years, you can see the passion and dedication that went into it. I have a review of it, which you can read here. If you are looking for an epic historical urban fantasy, then look no further. 

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

I was unsure if I wanted to put this book on this list, but I knew I had to as I haven't read anything like it. It tackles a relationship between a fifteen year old girl and her teacher. Set when the victim is 15 and in her thirties, it asks if victims really consider themselves victims. It was a dense read, with times when I had to put it down as it was so dark. As it tackles sensitive subjects such as sexual abuse and death, I would read it, but only if you feel mentally up to it. I have a review of it, which you can read here. 

That concludes my best books of 2020. What were some of your best books of the year?

Carenza :) x