What a stressful way to end the year. As interesting as this reading challenge has been, I can’t say that I’m planning on doing anything like this again. The time between Christmas should be about eating and sleeping. Instead, I was panicking about finding books to read to cross off the letters I still needed. Still, I just about managed it and now I’m looking forward to reading whatever I want next year.
Bookish Post – December Reading Wrap-Up
books, wrap-up
Number of books read: 10
Number of rereads: 2
Number of physical books: 5
Number of ebooks: 2
Number of audiobooks: 3
Number of ARCS: 2
5* reviews: 2
4.5* reviews: 0
4* reviews: 2
I feel like the end of this month has been super stressful. I didn’t do as much reading as I’d intended to between Christmas and New Year. In fact, I almost didn’t make my reading challenge. I was sure that I wouldn’t finish it and there’s a chance that I still might not. I have a few pages left on my current read. It’s taken much longer than I’d expected. Fingers crossed I can fit it in before midnight.
Tuesday Review – Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)
books, reviews
I know that a lot of people out there will say that the original Home Alone film is a timeless classic and that it could never be topped. These people will say that the most recent film in the Home Alone franchise is ruining their childhood and that its very existence is an absolute travesty. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the first Home Alone film but I wasn’t outraged that Disney was attempting to cash in on the premise again. Especially as it was going to star Archie Yates who was an absolute delight in Jojo Rabbit. He seemed like the perfect choice to take over the Macaulay Culkin role. I also think there was a lot of potential to update the story for 2021.
Book Review – The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
books, reviews
I don’t necessarily have the best track record with Lucy Foley but that didn’t stop me from requesting her upcoming novel on NetGalley. What can I say, I keep getting sucked in by her novels. So, despite having a pretty full December TBR, I started reading this the other week. As it was Christmas, it took me longer than usual to read it but, after a big reading session on Boxing Day, I finally finished it. I was excited about the Paris location because it made a change from the isolated locations of her previous thrillers. I was hoping for a bit more of a mystery than I’d previously been offered because I’ve previously been underwhelmed by Lucy Foley’s twists. Would The Paris Apartment be able to surprise me?
TBT Review – Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002)
films, reviews, TBT
I know that there is a lot of debate at this time of year about what the best Christmas film is. Something that will keep happening until everyone just accepts that it’s The Muppet Christmas Carol. Many people may mistakenly believe that Home Alone is superior. Some may even believe that its sequel is the best. While both films are great in their own right, they’re just not the greatest. A lot of what makes the films good is down to Macaulay Culkin. So, it was very upsetting for me to learn that there is a fourth film in the franchise that sees Kevin McCallister played by some other kid. Yes, I knew about the disappointing 3rd film but another sequel that tried to recapture the magic of the first two? I had to see what this was about.
Bitesize Book Reviews 8
books, reviews
I haven’t read a lot this week and I think that had something to do with the fact that I was already ahead with my reviews. I knew that I wasn’t under any pressure to get something read in time because I was already behind. Well, not behind but I had a bit of a backlog. So, I ended up reading a few shorter books that didn’t really deserve a full review. Meaning I’m back with another couple of bite-size reviews.
Sunday Rundown: That’s What She Read
books, films, rundown
What have you been reading this week?
Less than a week to go until the big day and only 4 days of work left before my Christmas break. It’s all very exciting but I have neglected my reading this week. Well, not really neglected it but I haven’t been reading the books that I should have done. Thankfully, I should have some time today, tomorrow and then during my time off over Christmas. Meaning I should get my final reading challenge finished in time.
Book Review – Taste by Stanley Tucci
books, reviews
I wasn’t expecting to read this book last week but I ended up needing a pick-me-up at work. It was when I was feeling shit and I was desperate for something to distract me. Otherwise, I would have sat in front of my computer feeling sorry for myself. So, I started listening to Stanley Tucci narrate his book Taste. I’d bought the hardback when it came out but I always like to experience this type of book in the writer’s own voice. Especially when that voice is a very talented and funny actor.
Tuesday Review – The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021)
films, reviews
This weekend I realised that I’d still not watched a Christmas movie in 2021. I just haven’t felt in the festive mood recently. Thankfully, Netflix were on hand with their traditional outpouring of festive crap. Including the third film to see Vanessa Hudgens pretend to be Vanessa Hudgens. Did I really think that the first Christmas film that I watched this year was going to the third film in The Princess Switch trilogy? No. Am I happy about it? No. Is there anything that I can do about it? No. It’s done. If your first festive film of advent is any indication of how the next year is going to go, then I’m not looking forward to 2022.
Book Review – An English Murder by Cyril Hare
books, reviews
We all know that Christmas is a time for giving and a time for family. It’s also a time for murder. Or at least it is in the literary world. There are so many crime novels set during the festive period. It’s fantastic. There’s nothing better than settling down on a cold winter night and trying to solve a murder. As far as the Golden Age of Crime writing goes, I’m a Christie girl and haven’t ventured too far beyond her work. So, it’s time to get a better view of the novels of that era. Starting with one of Cyril Hare’s more popular novels.
Yipee ki-yay, motherbooker 