Today is the last day of my holiday, which means I’m back at work on Monday. Thanks to our local lockdown, I won’t be going back to the office as originally planned. Part of me is really happy but I was kind of looking forward to being able to get out a bit more. I would always go out for a walk at lunchtime but, since March, I’ve not really been able to leave the house. At least it means I can keep pretending that I’m finally going to make my way through my huge TBR.

Weekly Blog Posts

• BOOK REVIEW – Those People by Lousie Candlish

The first review of the week was this domestic thriller by Louise Candlish. I don’t remember when I bought it but I decided that I wanted something silly to read. Sometimes you just want something stupid to take your mind off things and work had been getting on top of me. We know that I don’t really get on with contemporary thrillers, so I didn’t exactly have huge expectations. Check out my review to find out if it was worth a try.

• TUESDAY REVIEW – Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Once again, I was looking for something really light to watch for my Tuesday Review this week. I wanted something silly and distracting. So, I decided that it was a great time to watch the follow up to the Jumanji reboot. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the previous film as much as I did, so I was quite looking forward to this one. Still, sequels do tend to struggle to capture the same magic as the first one, so I wasn’t convinced it would work. Read my review to find out if it did.

• BOOK REVIEW – The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

James Baldwin is one of those writers that will always be worth reading. Not only was he a major figure during the civil rights movement but his arguments continue to be relevant today. I had added a few of Baldwin’s books to my anti-racist reading list and this was the perfect one to pick up when I needed a quick read. I think Baldwin has a wonderful mastery of the English language, so I was really looking forward to this one. Head over to my review to see if I was suitably inspired.

• TBT REVIEW – Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

I always forget that this film exists and that it is officially part of the Jumanji franchise. It came out when I was 17 which meant I never ended up watching it. Why not watch it now? If you’re feeling nostalgic then check out my review.

• BOOK POST – July Reading Wrap-Up

Another month over. 2020 is going by so quickly but it also feels so slow. Who knows what’s happening to time. We’re now in the 8th month of the year but we haven’t really been living a normal life since the 3rd. That’s 5 whole months of craziness thanks to our stupid government. I remember back to March when I bought a load of new books with the intention of getting them all finished in lockdown. Of course, that hasn’t happened but I am still managing to keep up with my current speed. Check out my post to see what I’ve been reading this week.

Just Read

• Those People by Louise Candlish

I know that I wasn’t expecting much from this book but it ended up being even worse. I just found this story lacked depth and the characterisations were thin. There was also very little mystery surrounding the crime. This book really wasn’t for me.

• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

This is a quick but brilliant short read. Containing two essays by the great writer. The first to his nephew and the second regarding race and religion. These were both fantastically written and super inspiring. If you’ve been looking for a place to start with Baldwin then this would be a great place to start.

Currently Reading

• The Spectrum of Sex by Hida Viloria and Maria Nieto

Have I read any more of this? No. Will I? Yes. I’m just so bad at getting into non-fiction. You can’t read it in the same way as fiction. It’s not the kind of thing to sit down with before bed as you’re dropping off.

• The Truants by Kate Weinberg

After such a disappointing read this week, you might be wondering why I’m risking another book that isn’t my usual read. What can I say? I’m a sucker for any book that has a connection to Agatha Christie. I’m always interested in finding out if it’s as good as the Queen of Crime.

Recently Purchased

I did buy a copy of Sula by Toni Morrison for our book club but, apart from that, I think I’ve been quite good. Don’t get me wrong, my Waterstones basket is full to the brim but I’m holding strong at the moment.

Recently Watched

• TV:
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race – Have I been watching old series again? Yes. Will I ever get bored with this show? No. I bloody love everything about it.