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Tuesday 27 March 2018

BEFORE YOU SLEEP: Three Horrors by Adam Nevill

Before You Sleep: Three Horrors
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

During one of my many Kindle store searches for interesting horror books, I found this collection for free.

So I picked it up and decided to try the first story yesterday...


WHERE ANGELS COME IN:

Well, this turned out to be a super creepy short story I couldn't put down.

When two boys dare to trespass into the house on top of the hill, they witness some truly frightful sights and only one of them makes it out alive...

Wow. This story is SO well written. It packs a freaky punch by setting up a scary scene and ramping it up a bit with every page. Some truly horrid imagery here. Loved it!


THE ANCESTORS:

Yikes. This was another super awesome, super creepy story I had to read in one sitting.

Yuki moved into a new house with her parents. It seems to be raining all the time, but at least Yuki has her friend Maho. And the many toys hiding in the shadows too...

Another very well-written tale of horrific things waiting in the shadows of night to seduce a child into safety, while doing the complete opposite to her parents. Loved the vivid Japanese atmosphere. I felt like I was inside that wretched house too.


FLORRIE:

After the previous stories were so awesome, I wasn't sure what to expect... and what I got was a creepy as fuck horror story that throws the reader's perception upside down.

Frank's mother always said you could feel when something was wrong with a house. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't share her ability and winds up moving into a house that creeps into his mind and body before he has the chance to realise what's going on...

Fucking hell, this was good. The entire story is pretty much Frank's narrative as the excitement of moving into his own home and renovating everything to his liking devolves into an unravelling of his own life.

Nostalgia. Paranoia. Disorientation. Falling into patterns that aren't his but seem so familiar. Wow. It's all captured in this story in the most brilliant way possible.



OMG. All three stories in this short story collection were brilliant! I can't believe such well-written stories were free.

I LOVED them so much.

Can't wait to read more from this horror author. His words weave such vivid and creepy imagery.

Monday 26 March 2018

THE NOWHERE GIRLS by Amy Reed

Who are the Nowhere Girls? They're every girl. But they start with just three:

Grace, the preacher's daughter who unwittingly moved into the old house of a victim whose pain adorns the walls.

Bold Rosina, whose heart has become hardened by all of the straight girls who broke it.

And misunderstood Erin, the girl who finds more solace in science and order than she does in people. 

They are brought together by the idea of changing the narrative of a girl they had never met, Lucy Moynihan, the victim of a sexual assault who was victimised further by people who found it easier to believe she had cried wolf than to confront what had really happened to her. A girl who, through the course of one evening, went from an excited teenager who felt wanted by a boy for the first time, to someone else entirely, with 'a voice in the darkness, giving her a new name: Slut'.

Together, they form the Nowhere Girls, and decide to avenge the rape of a girl none of them knew.



This is a book I was interested in reading since I first heard about it. Like Asking for It and Moxie, it's an important story that should be read by every girl and every woman. No matter how old we are, we were all just like these girls once. And we grew up to be the women still fighting against a very sexist system determined to oppress us.

When Lucy reported what was done to her by three popular guys, she was victimised, ostracised and labelled something she wasn't. So her family moved away from the small town of Prescott. But when Grace moves into Lucy's former home and finds some disturbing messages on the wall, she starts to wonder about the girl who put them there. 

Rosina and Erin are friends, but couldn't be more different. Rosina's part of a large Mexican family and is expected to work in the family restaurant, babysit her cousins and pretty much not have a life. Erin is on the autism spectrum and has a hard time associating with other people, keeps to her daily schedule, enjoys Star Trek: The Next Generation, and has a secret she carries with her.

Grace meets Rosina and Erin at her new school and starts asking questions about Lucy. When she hears the story, a fire is lit within Grace and together, these three friends start The Nowhere Girls. A movement that starts slow but soon sweeps over the school and spreads into the community.

But when a large group of girls rebel against the patriarchy, trouble is sure to follow...

Wow. This book is so powerful. 

It's an amazing story about three teenagers who want to get justice for a girl they don't know. A girl everyone shunned when she told the truth. A victim everyone--even other girls--decided to insult and ignore, instead of helping. Lucy didn't get the justice she deserved, so the Nowhere Girls will.

I loved the concept of starting a movement in the name of a girl who was wronged by a corrupt system we see way too often. While also trying to stop the violence from happening to someone else, and educating EVERYONE along the way.

Another aspect of this book that is totally awesome is how well everything is mixed together: the everyday teenage experience, how confusing it can be to be a girl, the many different family dynamics and faiths featured, as well as tackling something so huge. Fighting the system is always a hard thing to do and there will always be someone trying to stop them, but these girls stay strong. Even when their own principal--a woman--bows down to the pressures and tries to ruin everything.

There's nothing worse than women and girls who let the patriarchy infect and drive them to push a false narrative about gender.

The Nowhere Girls is an intriguing and addictive book that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I loved every raw and heartbreaking moment of what was going on, even when things got so infuriating my blood was boiling. Even when things got uncomfortable and my heart went out to these girls and their awesome cause.

This is a very important book!

The Nowhere Girls are all of us.


The Nowhere Girls, October 2017, ISBN 9780349003078, Atom

Saturday 24 March 2018

DETECTIVE PIKACHU: Eevee's Case by Pokémon Company

Detective Pikachu: Episode 0—Eevee's Case
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hubby grabbed the Kindle version of this book from the Nintendo Life website. Since it's a short story, I thought I'd check it out right away.

Pikachu is a great detective. He lives in Ryme City, which is a place full of Pokémon, humans and good food. For some reason, he understands what people are saying but they can't understand him.

A few months before his human partner, Harry, went missing and so did Pikachu's memory. So now he's staying with a friend of Harry's, while trying to find him. But in the meantime, he decides to start his own agency. And when Eevee asks him to help figure out who ruined its partner's yard, Pika takes on the case...

This is so adorable. The story's quite simple, the writing is easygoing and easy to get into. It was nice to see how Pokémon and humans live together. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I got a kick out of how nicely different types of Pokémon were thrown into the mix to create a cute mystery! And that Pikachu loves a good cup of coffee is hilarious.

It's obviously aimed at kids, and I think they'll get a kick out of how this short tale complements their DS game. But anyone can enjoy this because it's a super fast and fun read.

Pikachu is a great handyman. :P

Friday 23 March 2018

HAMMERS ON BONE by Cassandra Khaw

Hammers on Bone (Persons Non Grata, #1)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this novella since the moment I picked it up. I was hooked from the start, and it didn't disappoint.

John Persons is a PI and gives off the noir detective vibes in spades. He's also a monster, which certainly comes in handy when a ten-year-old kid hires him to kill his stepdad. McKinsey is an abusive, violent asshole and not really much of a man.

As Persons starts his investigation, he finds something horribly wrong. A monstrous thing is spreading fast, but that's not all he finds. The deeper he gets into this case, the more he finds out about himself with some very surprising consequences...

Wow. What a great story! This turned out to be such a great detective noir narrative mixed with very creepy Lovecraftian horror. So much of what happens is steeped in mysterious darkness that swept me under the murky surface of what was happening, until everything slowly got clear enough to push me to the surface.

It's so creepy, and visceral and the imagery is detailed so clearly that it drills its tentacles into your brain. Yeah, my most favourite thing about this book is the excellent writing style.

I'm looking forward to reading more PI John Persons adventures. And more stories written by this very talented author.

A Week Off?

Well, my intention was to take it easy because I was feeling a bit wonky earlier in the week... but of course I ended up doing a bunch of stuff.

After being totally consumed by my own story, I got the chance to actually catch up on some reading. I finally finished reading FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King--an anthology I've been reading for a few months. Yay. I picked up a YA UF that I HATED so much I got rid of it as soon as I finished. But I did enjoy a great picture book.

I'm now reading two very interesting and intriguing books: a horror novella & a contemporary YA.

Asides from the reading, I watched quite a few things:

  • VAN HELSING S1: Thought I'd give this a go... but could only stand two episodes of this garbage TV show before giving up. The premise was flimsy, the worldbuilding weak, it's pretty much a sausagefest, and anything portraying vampires like zombies does NOT deserve to be watched.
  • ROSEMARY'S BABY, Part 1 & 2: This is the mini-series made a few years ago and starring Zoe Saldana. BTW, she was awesome in this! As far as the adaptation went, I really enjoyed it. The location was Paris (instead of NY) and several characters were added, a few things removed, but mostly the creepy, paranoid feel was perfect.
  • HELLRAISER: Judgment: What a total waste of time. Too much gore for shock factor, instead of story. Serial killer mystery was too obvious. Cenobites were a disappointment. And no one does Pinhead like Doug Bradley.
  • THE X-FILES S11 Finale: O.M.G. I've LOVED this season so very much, so I was both excited and sad about this episode. And it didn't disappoint. This ep was full of old school X-Files conspiracy action and was a thrilling race to find William. The End was amazing, emotional, satisfying. Seriously, if this is truly IT, I'm a happy fan.

This also happened:


Yep. One night, I decided to revise my moody short story on my phone, and on Monday I accepted all the Track Changes. It's now ready for one more draft. And, a few nights ago I got a new YA horror (with a twist of mythology) idea. All it took was stumbling on a freaky picture someone posted on Twitter! From that, I created a very cool concept with characters I can't wait to write.

Like I said, I did intend to take it easy but I'm glad I got things done/read/watched.

Okay, that's enough rambling for now. 😁

But before I go, make sure you take part in EARTH HOUR on Saturday night.

Have a great weekend!


Thursday 22 March 2018

BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE by Annette Curtis Klause

Blood and ChocolateBlood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

O.M.F.G. This book was such a disappointment. It's nothing like I thought it would be. In the worst way possible.

I was expecting an interesting werewolf UF, and instead got this.

I read the first half and then hate-skimmed the rest. :/ I just wanted to know how this trainwreck could possibly end in a good way. Spoiler: it ends horribly. Of course. 

The story started out fine: a werewolf pack who mostly keeps to themselves is attacked after a human is killed. This forces the surviving wolves to relocate to the suburbs. Vivian lost her father and leader that night and has trouble staying connected to the other teenagers in her pack, and then falls in love with a human and blah, blah, blah.

Yeah, everything goes downhill from there.

This is one of the worst stories I've ever had the displeasure of reading. All of the characters are awful. The girls and women hate each other and compete for no reason. The guys and men are all disgusting pervs with rapey thoughts and intentions. Seriously, in one scene the human boy's father insinuates some creepy shit that is just not o-fucking-k. Ever.

Vivian is horrid. She's arrogant, so perfect all the men in the world fall at her feet in the most sexist way possible, and she thinks of people as meat. All the wolves do. And her mother is even worse. She lusts after a male wolf and then pushes her daughter towards mating with him when he reveals his intentions. The humans aren't any better, either.

The narrative is full of bigroty and sexism and insults and hate towards people mixing and drums home how terrible it is to be different. Such pathetic dribble. And that a 24yo man is interested in a teenager and everyone--especially her mother--is a-okay with it is GROSS. So fucking gross!

Actually, if I had to sum up this book with one word it would be DISGUSTING. It sucks and has left a really bad taste in my mouth. I can't wait to get rid of it.

I don't know whether to donate this book or just put it in the recycling. Ugh.


Tuesday 20 March 2018

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MARLON BUNDO by Jill Twiss & EG Keller

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last night while watching Last Week Tonight, John Oliver's report about Mike Pence's bunny book announced THEY had a much better bunny book available.

So hubby donated money to The Trevor Project and we got a free copy of this charming picture book about an adorable bunny who falls for another boy bunny. All Marlon and Wesley want is to be happy together, but the stinky Stink Bug has other ideas. He doesn't believe in equality and tries to ruin everything...

I loved this!

Not only is the story awesome because it's adorable and has an amazing message, but the illustrations are so pretty. And all the animal characters are delightful! Plus, the very serious issues of tolerance, same sex marriage and how democracy is supposed to work are interwoven so well.

This is one clever, cute and fun book.

I think everyone should read it!

So go and grab yourself a copy from The Trevor Project: https://t.co/nP3btN5F0h


FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King

Full Dark, No StarsFull Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been meaning to read this anthology for ages, and have no idea why I haven't. LOL.

So, because I'm totally in the mood to read a bunch of catch-up books this year, I pushed this one to the top of the pile.

1922

I'm curious about the Thomas Jane Netflix movie made for this novella, so I was pretty excited about getting stuck into it.

Wilf and Arlette James have a prosperous farm, a young son and a handful of animals. But when Arlette decides she wants to sell some land that belongs to her and is determined to make the deal whether Wilf likes it or not, he decides the only way to stop her is to kill her.

To do that he poisons his son's mind, manipulates him into helping, and sets off a chain of events that can only lead to ruin...

Well. That was quite a story!

Wilf is everything I hate: sexist, racist, entitled, arrogant. So I really shouldn't have cared about his story, but I did. Part of the reason is because I was looking forward to seeing karma slap him upside the head, but mostly it was Stephen King's ability to suck me into the story so easily. The man can sure weave a tale.

Following one man's vicious and selfish plan to eliminate the one thing in his way, turned into a character study of becoming unhinged by your own decisions, as well as sneaking in the moral of the story. And what's that, you ask? That nothing is easy. That every action has a consequence. And that sometimes, you just ain't right. What this man did to his child was as criminal as what he did to his wife.

Great story!


BIG DRIVER

I went into this novella looking forward to reading a tale of revenge I thought might involve a strong woman versus some crazy hick killer. Instead, I was disappointed to find it's just another rape story.

So I stopped reading.

For a week I kept picking up the book, would read a paragraph or two and then put the book down, before finally deciding to DNF. I just couldn't.


FAIR EXTENSION

I didn't know anything about this novella, but was instantly intrigued.

Dave Streeter is sick, really sick. Cancer might be what is killing him, but treatment is making him violently ill. The day he meets George Elvid, the strange man makes him an offer he can't refuse...

Yikes! This story was great. Good to see the anthology get back on track after the previous (very disappointing) story.

What I loved the most about this novella is how simple it is. Or at least, how simple it first appears: terminally ill man is made an offer to live a much longer life as long as he's willing to offload all his bad energy onto someone else. A simple concept loaded with so much.

This isn't the first time King has tackled something like this, but it's still different.

This story is so well written, and starring such a despicable man that although his narrative kept me hooked from start to finish, I couldn't believe just how cruel and heartless he turned out to be. Streeter is a truly awful individual so drunk on his own shit that he gets worse with every twist of fate his unfortunate target encounters.

King is such a great writer.


A GOOD MARRIAGE

I've been interested in this one for a while, and want to watch the movie. So I was excited to get stuck into it.

After reading the other three stories I knew this one would be just as dark and screwed up, but didn't think it would go the way it did. Yikes!

Darcy and Bob Anderson have been married for twenty-seven years and have two grown children. One is just about to get married, and the other is embarking on a huge business deal. Both of them idolise their father and are close to their mother.

Darcy is happy. Bob is a good man--an accountant who likes to collect coins. He might not be the most exciting or handsome guy in the world, but they've got a good thing going. That is until Darcy goes into the garage looking for batteries and instead stumbles into a horrible secret her husband has been keeping...

Whoa. I already knew what this was about, but didn't expect where it went. Such a happy family situation quickly turns into a nightmarish reality anyone would struggle with, but how things turned out really surprised me. Didn't expect THAT to happen, but in a twisted way I was really glad it did.

This was another great one!


I really enjoyed the Afterword, too. Of course I did. I always love reading about how writers get their ideas.

I might not have enjoyed one of these stories, but enjoyed the other three enough to still like the collection as a whole.


Friday 16 March 2018

Revision Continued

As I mentioned last week, I'm once again in Revision Town. And after taking the weekend off, on Monday I grabbed my Paperwhite, scrappy papers and laptop to get stuck into the last bit of the novel.

I actually reached The End on Tuesday afternoon, but then had to deal with a rep word list, last-minute stuff list, and a bunch of ideas inside my head. So I kept going and by Thursday afternoon, I was happy to finally call this draft DONE.

By this stage I would usually be finished with the story, but not this novel. SO MUCH has changed since the first draft that while the heart of the story is still the same, it's now set somewhere else, several threads were completely cut, the last few chapters are different, and a bunch of new things were added. Not to mention making it as creepy as possible.

I even cut over 3k words! Words that I'm glad are gone. The total word count has now dipped below 80k and I'm okay with that.

Like I told hubby the other day, I finally (really) like the first chapter. It captures everything I wanted to portray, and sets off the rest of the freaky journey just how I wanted it to. I had a certain vision for this book, and took a bit longer to craft.

Now that this draft is done, I'm going to put it aside for a week or two. Then I'll read the book from start to finish one last time.

In the meantime I might write the synopsis, clear my head, indulge in other ideas and read. My head's been so clogged up with this story that it's constantly tickling the back of my mind. Even while I'm sleeping. Oh, plus, I haven't read anything that wasn't my own story for TWO WEEKS! O.o

Asides from all this proofreading, we watched the second season of Jessica Jones. And it was AMAZING. So raw, messy, complicated and heartbreaking. I absolutely love this series. It's actually (apart from Daredevil S1 and 1st half of S2) the only Marvel show I can stand. My fave by miles.

Anyway, that's what I did this week.

Have a nice weekend!


THE STORY OF TANTRUM O'FURRILY by Cressida Cowell

A lyrical new text from the bestselling author of the How To Train Your Dragon series, Cressida Cowell, with striking illustrations from a talented, debut artist, Mark Nicholas.

Tantrum O'Furrily's kittens are hungry and doubt that a story can ease a stray cat's rumbling stomach. However, they soon learn that stories are powerful, and that if you're courageous you might find a saucer of milk at the end of that story.


I don't read many picture books, but every now and then one captures my attention. And Hachette Australia was kind enough to send me a copy of this one. :)

On a windy night while Tantrum O'Furrily is out and about with her three kittens, they ask her to tell them a story. So she tells them the tale of a kitty called Smallpaw, and what happens when kittens are too curious and so adventurous they eventually stumble into danger...

OMG. This is so cute! It's such a pretty hardback book with beautiful landscapes, colourful animals and a fun tale that works on several levels. I love cats so I find any story featuring smart and brave kitties interesting.

It's certainly not a long book--I read it in one very quick sitting--but perfect to entice young (and old) kids.

The Story of Tantrum O'Furrily is a simple, yet deep and meaningful contemporary fable. And with such gorgeous illustrations made by Mark Nicholas, the words and pictures perfectly complement each other. They also echo the safe and cozy side, as well as the dangerous quality, of the story.

Adorable!


The Story of Tantrum O'Furrily, April 2018, ISBN 9781444933802, Hodder Children's Books

Saturday 10 March 2018

Back to Revision

After a week away from my current WIP, I got stuck into the next round of revision.

This is what I like to call the read-thru. It's when I read the novel on my Paperwhite. Changing devices is a great way to see the story differently, and anything that doesn't work REALLY stands out: typos, excess, repetition, inconsistencies, etc.

I started on Monday, and honestly thought it would take a week to get to the end. But as soon as I started, I realised this draft would be a bit more involved than expected. Why? Because I want to make this book as creepy and strong as possible. The atmosphere, imagery and format need to complement each other, as much as the plot and characters.

By the end of the week I reached 65% and made pages & pages of changes. I've cut SO many words that the total w/c has dipped below 80k. I cut anything that bogged down the action and/or slowed the story.

Writing is such a balancing act. Background, setting, dialogue, action and atmosphere all need to fit together and move the story forward at the right pace. As much work as this story is turning out to be, I don't mind. I'm determined to make sure this book ends up as close to my vision as possible.

Some stories take longer than others to become what they need to be. Some stories don't change much from first to final draft. And some, like this one, evolve in some way every step of the way.

That means the story is eating my brain. It also means that I've spent every single moment during Mon-Fri daytime working on it. So there's been no reading for pleasure. No updating files/pics. The only thing I slotted in was watching The X-Files because I'm loving S11.

Now my March writing plans need to be revised because I'd originally slotted two lots of revision for this month. Yeah, a bit ambitious and it's not gonna happen.

Asides from the read-thru, walking (twice a day) and spending time with family, we started watching iZOMBIE S4... and decided to quit it. The new season is just so ridiculous and pretty much destroys everything that made the show so awesome, fun and clever.

Such a shame when that happens.

Anyway, it's been a busy week, so I'm looking forward to taking the weekend off.

See ya! 😀

Friday 2 March 2018

Between Week

Last week I finished the third draft of the book I'm currently revising. So the next step is to read the draft on my Paperwhite after taking a break from it.

Only problem is that I started another Tweak/Add List last weekend. So, first thing on Monday morning I opened the doc and made the changes. Then, I was able to put it away for the rest of the week.

The story's so in my head that I needed a bit of distance.

I spent most of this week sorting my notebooks and random book piles. Plus I read a bunch of awesome non-fiction titles and wrote reviews for them. I'm really enjoying finding out about the many innovative women the patriarchy has buried through the years and unfairly left off the history books. 

It's about fucking time these strong, intelligent and brilliant women are celebrated for their many achievements!

By midweek, a surpise arrived in my Inbox. The edits for my YA horror short story came in! Have I mentioned that I had a YA story accepted and will be published in an anthology called Locker Shockers? I'm very excited.

Anyway, long story short: I got the edits done and sent them back. Yay.

I also read one of my most anticipated books ever. I finally read PRACTICAL MAGIC. And loved it. Adored the magical and gorgeous writing.

Why did it take me so long to read this book? Well, mainly because I was afraid to start it. I had such high expectations that I was secretly scared, in case I was disappointed. I haven't seen the movie so I wasn't sure what to expect, but Alice Hoffman is such an amazing author that I really wanted to check it out.

Really glad I loved it SO MUCH.

There you have it. My week was full of loads of washing, walking, review writing, stationery sorting, editing, review book checking, reading and updating. I updated quite a few files too. Phew.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Have an awesome one!

SHE: A Celebration of Renegade Women by Harriet Hall

You are cordially invited to celebrate inspirational women... 

SHE is a love letter to all the women who have thrown out the rulebook and threatened the status quo. It's a toast to the brave, bold and brilliant women who make us proud to be ladies. 

 From fashion icon Coco Chanel to Queen Cleopatra, from literary legend Jane Austen to trailblazer Michelle Obama and from kick-ass activist Malala Yousafzai to the one-and-only Beyonce, SHE honours 100 truly renegade women, from history through to present day. 

 Gorgeously curated and expertly written by Stylist journalist Harriet Hall, and filled with stunning illustrations and stylish typography, SHE is a thing of beauty to be worshipped, just like the women that make up its contents. 


Wow, this hardback book is gorgeous! I love the size, and that it doesn't have a dust jacket. I even love the way the 100 renegade women are featured: a two-page spread with illustration on one side and awesome information on the other. It's so neat and crisp and to the point.

I've been reading quite a few books about women who aren't household mames, although most should be, and am continually fascinated with how powerful and strong women have been throughout history. Even though many didn't get recognition until recently, they pushed on and got things done. 

The bravery these women possessed is inspirational.

I also like the diversity in this book. Not only are there women featured of all colours and from all over the world, but also through the ages and different fields.

SHE: A Celebration of Renegade Women is much more than a reference book about kick-ass women, it's a celebration. An inspiration to encourage the rest of us to keep creating, fixing, inventing--just do what feels right for you and make a difference in a world that often tries to stop us.

This is another keeper, and it's going right next to all the other books in my growing collection.


She: A Celebration of Renegade Women, March 2018, ISBN 9781472249852, Headline Home

Thursday 1 March 2018

FORGOTTEN WOMEN: The Scientists by Zing Tsjeng

Putting 48 pioneering and innovative female scientists firmly back on the modern map.

FORGOTTEN WOMEN is a new series of books that uncover the lost herstories of influential women who have refused over hundreds of years to accept the hand they've been dealt and, as a result, have formed, shaped and changed the course of our futures. From leaders and scientists to artists and writers, the fascinating stories of these women that time forgot are now celebrated, putting their achievements firmly back on the map.

THE SCIENTISTS celebrates 48 unsung scientific heroines whose hugely important, yet broadly unacknowledged or incorrectly attributed, discoveries have transformed our understanding of the scientific world. From Mary Anning, the amateur paleontologist whose fossil findings changed scientific thinking about prehistoric life and the Earth's history to Emmy Noether dubbed "The Mighty Mathematician You've Never Heard Of" and whose theorem is still critical to modern physics - these are the stories of some truly remarkable women. Chapters including Earth & Universe; Biology & Natural Sciences; Medicine & Psychology; Physics & Chemistry; Mathematics and Technology & Inventions profile the female scientists who have defied the odds, and the opposition, to change the world around us.



The other day I posted my review for FORGOTTEN WOMEN: The Leaders, and on that same day I actually received this very awesome book!

Just like LEADERS, this edition is absolutely stunning. It's hardback and the pages inside are colourful in both illustrations and knowledge. The way everything is set out kept me turning the page, wanting to consume all the information until I reached the end.

Although there are a bunch of women I do recognise listed here, there are too many I didn't. So I'm really grateful to this book for introducing me to these intelligent and innovative women in history.

I hate that these amazing ladies were considered forgotten at any time, because they deserve to be out there in the public eye. Every single one deserves their place in the history books!

Forgotten Women: The Scientists is another outstanding addition to my feminist reference books. I love learning about these very talented women and hope this series of books expands into every field so we can discover all of the pioneers left out for no other reason than their gender.

Love this book!



Forgotten Women: The Scientists, March 2018, ISBN 9781844039838, Cassell

Books Read in February

As I mentioned last month, this year I'm going to post a list of the books I've read at the end of each month. 

It's a fun way of breaking up the yearly reads. It's also a cool way of listing the different types of stories & books I read.

Here's my February list: 
  1. The Pool House by Tasmina Perry
  2. The Death House by Sarah Pinborough
  3. Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
  4. Big Driver by Stephen King (DNF @ 18pgs)
  5. The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
  6. Satellite by Nick Lake (DNF @ 80pgs)
  7. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (DNF @ 100pgs)
  8. The Wonder Down Under by Nina Brochmann & Ellen Støkken Dahl
  9. Forgotten Women: The Leaders by Zing Tsjeng

Novels read: 9
Non-fiction: 2
Novellas read: 1
Short stories read: 0
Poem collections read: 0
DNF: 3
Finished series: 0


Yikes, I had a bit of bad luck this month with the DNFs. I was really surprised about how boring Satellite turned out to be. So dull I lost interest and had to put it down. Not enjoying Big Driver was an even bigger surprise because I usually love King's work. This story just handled a trope I despise. Ugh. 

As for Odd Thomas, as much as I wanted to like it, I'm not surprised I gave up after 100 pages. For some reason, I haven't been able to read a single Koontz story all the way through. o.O

Although I'm determined to read more novellas, short stories (+anthologies) this  month I only read novels. But I did add a bit of non-fiction to the list. ☺ 

Happy reading!
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