The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls Review
I recently read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, after seeing it mentioned frequently in readers’ lists of favourite memoirs. Much as I love fiction, I also enjoy a good memoir, and have written one of my own, Making The Breast Of It. It lived up to all the hype – it’s one of the […]
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The Chain Adrian McKinty Review
Adrian McKinty’s novel The Chain is an international bestseller. It’s a call-in-sick-to-work-and put-your-phone-on-silent type of book.There’s nothing I enjoy more than a crime thriller that keeps me on the edge of the couch (as I’m usually lying down when I read). The Chain by Adrian McKintyRave Reviews For The ChainWhen you have cover reviews for your […]
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Boy Swallows Universe
If you’re an Aussie and a book lover, and haven’t heard about Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, then you’ve been living in a cave for the past year. Even if you’re not an Aussie, you may know about it, as it’s been an international success. The book has been selling like crazy and has […]
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Memoir Or Autobiography – What’s The Difference?
Much as I love reading fiction, I also enjoy a well-written memoir or autobiography. Many people think those terms are interchangeable, but there is a clear difference. What is a Memoir?A memoir is written about a specific time or event in the author’s life, which can span a few weeks to many years. For example:A […]
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Writing About What Hurts
Writing about what hurts. It seems such a strange thing to do, but even the experts agree.Write hard and clear about what hurts. I recently came upon this quote by Ernest Hemingway, the master of pithy advice for writers, and I found it very thought-provoking. It’s a variation of the writing advice to ‘write what you know,’ […]
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Books into Movies – The Best and the Worst
Turning books into movies is not always a joyous experience for book lovers or movie goers alike.With the 90th Academy Awards ceremony taking place a few days ago, movies are still a major topic of conversation. Going to the movies is one of my favourite pastimes. You can keep your Netflix, nothing beats seeing a […]
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Five Reasons To Love Short Stories
After years in the literary wilderness, short stories are making a comeback. In the days when traditional publishing was the norm, publishers usually baulked at publishing short stories unless you were a famous author, as they perceived them as being difficult to sell. But in these days of digital publishing and indie authors, short stories are […]
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How Mindfulness Can Enhance Your Life
One of my goals for this year is to incorporate more mindfulness into my everyday life. Unless you’ve been held captive in a cave in darkest Africa by one-eyed multiple-tentacled aliens, you will have heard the term ‘mindfulness’ bandied about with reckless abandon, in the company of other words like meditation, karma, holistic and green […]
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What Was Your Most Un-Christmassy Christmas?
I’ve invented a new category for christmas called; the most un-Christmassy Christmas.Have you ever stopped to mull over all the Christmasses you’ve had, and thought about the happiest, the saddest, the weirdest or even the grumpiest Christmas?Great ExpectationsIt’s difficult for me to pinpoint my happiest Christmas, but near the top of the list is when I […]
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Finding Your Tribe
What does finding your tribe mean? It’s one of those buzz phrases beloved of bloggers, marketers and pop psychologists. It essentially means finding those people who have the same interests as you. People who you feel comfortable around, in order to feel accepted and share meaningful experiences. It’s a concept as old as humanity itself […]
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