Will by Will Smith and Mark Manson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Will
Author: Will Smith & Mark Manson
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Audiobooks, Biographies, Celebrity
Pace: Medium
Format: Audiobook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Whilst I’m new to audio books, this is one that I would 100% not recommend getting in print. Having the audio book version with Will Smith himself telling his story was amazing. And that doesn’t even take into account the musical moments throughout. Examples of the raps and tunes he’s talking about just bring this even more to life.

I’ve been doing a bit of binge watching of Fresh Prince lately. It’s been very interesting to watch that and listen to this audiobook throughout the same time period. There’s so many more bits of information that I picked up on. Background tidbits that somehow add more to the storyline and give even greater context to the jokes made throughout.

I’m not going to lie, this is definitely a biography written by a bit of a narcissist. There are many moments throughout where Will tries to sound wise and all knowing. And to me it just doesn’t quite come of that way. Not to say that his worldview isn’t inherently interesting. And honestly, for someone to do as well as he has in his chosen careers… you’ve got to be a narcissist. But, it definitely made a large contrast in tone to the types of biographies I have been listening to.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the insanity that is celebrity life. The kind of personality and drive it takes to ENJOY such a way of living. It’ll be a long time before I want to dive into this world again. But for those 17 hours, it was fun.

<- The Jane Austen Writers’ ClubThis is Me ->

Image source: Goodreads

Survival by Stuart Diver

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Survival: The Inspirational Story of the Thredbo Disaster’s Sole Survivor
Author: Stuart Diver
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Australian history, Memoirs, Natural disaster
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 1999

Thoughts

I’d never actually heard about Thredbo until recently. When I read Bad Ground. It might be a big moment of Australian history, but it’s not one that’s memorable from my recollection of local history. So when I did a little research, I was completely intrigued. And boy am I glad that I actually decided to buy this book.

The start of this book very much reads like a love letter to Sally. It wasn’t until around the 8th chapter when Stuart starts actually talking about the landside that I was able to concentrate and read this in a big hit. Before that, my heart just kept breaking and I had to keep putting this down to wipe away a tear.

I love how this book talks about Stuart’s point of view and experiences. But balanced with this is the factual account of what Australia and the rest of the rescuers were also witnessing and experiencing. It was a pretty stark and brutal reality. One that I’m honestly surprised didn’t give me nightmares. I don’t like small spaces, reading a memoir about being trapped underground for 65 hours… literally one of my worst nightmare. All I’d need is snakes to make it the worst thing ever…

Although my edition of this was on my kobo, it’s one that I want to add to my physical library. I love reading about Australian history and I think its important to keep adding to my knowledge and collection.

<- Gender GamesVanilla Beans & Brodo ->

Image source: Pan Macmillan Australia

The Royal Art of Poison by Eleanor Herman

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Royal Art of Poison: Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicines and Murder Most Foul
Author: Eleanor Herman
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, History, Science
Pace: Slow
Format: Non-fictional text
Year: 2018

Thoughts

This is one of those books that I’ve stopped and started multiple times. It’s incredibly interesting and informative. But, it’s a little bit dry throughout. There’s good wit, humour and sass. But it’s also a lot of information in a short amount of time.

I enjoyed how this book first talked about the different (and many) caused of death in the past. How many of these deaths were often attributed to poison… but in fact were just poor hygiene and pure insanity. Of nothing else, this is a great reminder of just how far we’ve come. And how damn lucky I feel to have been born in the modern era.

Then there’s the section on historical figures which were reported to be murdered by poison. I love how Herman not only talks about those final moments, but also a little about their lives, the reasons for their apparent murder and finally the modern evidence that does or does not support poisoning. It’s very interesting reading about well known historical figures.

This is definitely one of those books that I’ll need to read again and again. It’s filled with information that I probably won’t absorb even with multiple reads. And then there’s so much follow up reading to fill my brain with!!!

<- More crimeMore history ->

Image source: Amazon

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: One Last Stop
Author: Casey McQuiston
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I absolutely loved Red, White and Royal Blue. It was brilliantly written with amazing characters and a wonderful storyline. Which means that I’ve been kind of hanging to read One Last Stop. I figure if one novel by McQuiston was going to be amazing, the next one probably was too. And I was completely correct. This book is amazing and wonderful and has so many emotions to it. I honestly don’t quite know where to begin…

Alright, so it took me a little to get into this. I did love August from the start. But some of her hang-ups and insecurities were just… too difficult for me to comprehend. Partly it’s probably because I’ve never really been floating through the world and untethered. I’ve always had someone, or something to give me roots. It’s incredibly difficult to understand what it would be like to not have that grounding and then relate… but I digress. August, regardless of that small factor in her characterisation that I couldn’t quite relate to was a wonderful lead. And, as I understood her more and more, I wanted to see the amazing character growth that I was hoping for from McQuiston’s writing. I wasn’t disappointed. At the root of this story, there is a major coming of age vibe that left me with all of the happy feelings.

It took me a decent chunk into this book to find the paranormal element to it. It was completely unexpected. I spent the first chunk trying to figure out how this wonderful little romance was going to go off the rails and fill the roughly 400 pages. And then that mystery element hit, and suddenly the length of the book became a lot more understandable and less tedious. I love how it was a twist that I honestly just didn’t see coming, one that had me hooked and unable to look away. It was a wonderful approach and idea that I kind of want to read more about. Actually, mostly I just want to read more about what happens after the whole cast of this story rides off, happily, into the sunset… they’re all just too cute.

This novel has a fantastic cast of characters. August and Jane as the lead couple are wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed August’s journey to acceptance and finally growing her own roots. But, then there’s the rest of the cast. Not only do multiple facets of the LGBTQIA+ community get represented within here, but there are also drag queens. Which I find ridiculously fun and wonderful. It just made me sink further and further into this story with the biggest, most ridiculous smile on my face.

<- More Casey McQuistonRed, White & Royal Blue ->

Image source: Goodreads

My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: My Life with the Chimpanzees
Author: Jane Goodall
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Conservation, Memoirs, Nature, Non-fiction,
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 1988

Thoughts

I absolutely loved In the Shadow of Man. This wasn’t quite as good, but still, it was wonderful. I think, though, that anything by Jane Goodall will leave me feeling pretty damn happy. I mean, she’s a goddamn icon and an inspiring woman. My Life with Chimpanzees gives a much broader outline of Goodall’s personal history and a brief overview of her entire lifetime. Where In the Shadow of Man focused on the short time period in which Goodall started her work at Gombe, My Life with the Chimpanzees was a much broader overview of a whole lifetime.

This was a very simple read. The language in this novel was very accessible and obviously geared towards a younger audience. Each chapter covers a very large chunk of Goodall’s life and only gives a brief glimpse into each moment of her history and journey towards being the internationally recognised figure that she is. It makes for a quick and very easy read. But one that I will possibly try to sink my teeth into again in the future.

I enjoyed how the last three chapters of this novel really focus on the future of our planet. It’s not about Goodall’s own experiences like the rest of the novel, but rather about what she hopes for the future. It’s a bit of a cold dose of reality because there are so many things truly wrong with the world. But it’s also incredibly hopeful. A balance that is hit perfectly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It wasn’t as in depth as most of the memoirs that I’ve been reading, and it was definitely only a snapshot into the world of Gombe and Goodall. But it was also a great overview. And now I want to pick up even more Goodall books…

<- My Friends the Wild ChimpanzeesPerformance and Evolution in the Age of Darwin ->

Image source: Booktopia

Lone Rider by Elspeth Beard

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Lone Rider: The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World
Author: Elspeth Beard
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Memoirs, Travel
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

This is one of those books that is very easy to put down and walk away from. Yet, it isn’t boring or easy to stop thinking about. It just doesn’t have you totally gripping the edge of your seat and wondering what exactly is going to happen next. The perfect memoir to read before bed – it’s actually safe to pick up because you can read just that one chapter and then walk away for a little bit. Not something that I necessarily experience with all of my books and can make being responsible and catching up on sleep somewhat difficult.

Beard is a great writer who takes you along with her on her epic journey. For me, someone born in the early 90’s, it is impossible to imagine much of the world that Beard travelled through almost a decade before my birth. Yet, she is able to write about her adventures in such a way that I can’t help but picture them. Particularly the hardships she experienced as a solitary woman travelling around the world. I can’t imagine trying to do that now. Doing that in an age before phones and in a time way before now… yup, that’s completely unfathomable to me.

The ending to this journey is probably one of the most sad that I’ve read in a long time. Especially in a memoir. The fact that this is a travel memoir meant that I really wasn’t expecting the way that Beard rounds out her phenomenal story. There is a lot of love in her final chapters that highlights her journey and how difficult some of it was for her. Particularly the journey that she takes to find herself when she returns home. I can’t even fathom going on such an epic multi-year adventure. But the returning home and figuring out who you are and what to do next? Unimaginable.

This was a fantastic adventure. One that I will probably reread in the future – there are so many moments throughout this that took me completely by surprise and swept me away in a whirlwind adventure. Some of the locations throughout Australia were so familiar and made me feel a comfortable welcoming home. Many others were totally unexpected. Moments and places that I will probably only ever dream of visiting…

<- Spy PrincessSix Legs Walking ->

Image source: Booktopia

A Gift from Darkness by Patience Ibrahim & Andrea C. Hoffman

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Gift from Darkness
Author: Patience Ibrahim & Andrea C. Hoffmann
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Africa, Memoirs, War
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

This was one of those books that I had to read in fits and starts. It’s incredibly intense and horrifying. And I just can’t fathom the horrors of what Patience has been through. The fact that I was reading this not long after giving birth… It was just far more gruelling for me, emotionally.

I’m struggling to write this review because of the emotional turmoil that this book put me through. It is well written and so drags you into those emotional moments that you just don’t quite expect. Or see coming. It honestly blind sides you. And, unlike most of the fiction books I read, there are no happy endings here. Sure, you finish reading this with Patience and Gift safe and sound… for now.

Andrea uses 2 timelines to tell the story of Boko Haram. Firstly there’s Patience’s story. The one that honestly reached inside and tore apart my heart. Then, there’s Andrea’s journey to meeting Patience. Her own emotional journey as she sees and understands what has happened in a more personal way to the Christians under Boko Haram torture.

I will definitely read this again. Its an incredibly powerful story. And a stark reminder of how lucky I have it down here in Australia.

<- The Not So Subtle Art of Being a Fat GirlLab Girl ->

Image source: Booktopia

Breathe by Rickson Gracie

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Breathe: A Life in Flow
Author: Rickson Gracie
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Audiobooks, Biographies, Martial arts, Sport
Pace: Slow
Format: Audiobook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

My coach told me about this book and, after a bit of a delay, I decided to download and listen to the audiobook. I knew that it would be good and interesting. But I had no idea just how… unforgettable it would be. Not to mention seriously confusing, overwhelming and intense. I’ve always joked that BJJ is a bit of a cult – I didn’t quite realise how correct and true to reality that comment would be.

Listening to this story of the origins of BJJ and the history of the Gracie family while I was driving to and from BJJ training was definitely a bit of a surreal experience. I had some basic understandings of where the martial arts form comes from. And I had some understanding of the intricacies and politics of the Gracie family. But, honestly, until I read this – I didn’t realise that I just had no idea.

Although the focus on this biography is very much around fighting and martial arts, it also talks about family and love. Rickson Gracie talks about his (many, many) brothers, his father, his children, his wife… and all of it intertwined with his life and love of BJJ. There are many moments of wisdom and love that I took away from his story that I really wasn’t expecting. I know that BJJ was developed for those who are smaller and not necessarily stronger than their opponents. But I didn’t expect such a spiritual journey and attachment, such a beautiful acceptance of life in all of its glory and horrors.

For anybody who is interested in sports, spiritual wellbeing and the growth of an international phenomenon, this is the biography for you. I love that not only does Gracie talk about the origins of BJJ, his own family history, and his training, but the origins of UFC also take centre stage here. I honestly had no idea how intertwined BJJ was with UFC from the very beginning – I thought it was just something that had evolved over time. Definitely a book that I will be picking up again and again and again.

<- Born to RunAn Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth ->

Image source: HarperCollins Australia

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Ayesha at Last
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Muslims, Retellings
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, and, indeed, anything Jane Austen. Which means I’m always happy and intrigued when I get the pleasure of reading a retelling of her classics. The fact that this was one of those books that I just had sent in a miscellaneous box… it left me feeling incredibly happy and over the moon. And, yes, I am completely obsessed with Jalaluddin now. She is an amazing writer, and once I sunk into this book, I struggled to put it down.

I’ve not read a lot of stories which feature Muslims. It’s definitely a cultural outlook that I am slowly increasing in my reading. But it is still incredibly sparse. Reading a retelling of a well-loved classic with this spin on it gave me an even greater understanding than I had expected. Not only was it a storyline that I already loved, but it was a cultural reality and life that I am completely fascinated by. (To be fair, I’m fascinated by anything that is not my own reality, hence the reading of a lot of books.) This window into another world also reminded us that pride and prejudice exist for everyone, no matter what their own cultural and social realities.

Unlike Pride and Prejudice, I didn’t find any of the “villains” in this story to be particularly villainous. Yes, they were a little difficult to stomach in moments, but you could also understand what drove them. Often it was small-mindedness. But it was still painful to read about, and the characters weren’t likeable. They were just… somehow more understandable. I love when the “villains” of a story are like this – it reminds you that often the “bad guys” in your own life have their own drivers and needs. It might not be exactly good and kind, but it is a little more understandable and relatable. It also takes an amazing writer to write characters that are completely unlikeable but totally understandable.

I absolutely adored this novel, and it is one that I look forward to reading again and again. There are so many fine details that pepper throughout this book that I found really intriguing and fun. I absolutely adored this and am kind of sad that it was over so soon. Which for me, is the mark of a truly amazing story.

<- More Uzma JalaluddinHana Khan Carries On ->

Image source: Booktopia

Reading Update

List

So, since I now have a kid (hence the radio silence for a while), and I’m also eventually going back to work. Plus, trying to finish off my studying… I’m not going to be able to consistently post reviews on here every month anymore. Instead, I’ll just write updates as I have the time to post. On a positive, I get to do a LOT of reading at the moment because I spend a lot of time feeding and cuddling my new born. So here’s the books that I’ve read in the last few months (whenever it was that I posted on here last)…

Non-fiction

Series

Short story collections

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Standalones – Short stories