Eliza Turner

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is, arguably, one of the best books I have ever read. A story of Alex, The First Prince of the United States and Henry, the Prince of England and their tumultuous journey of falling irrevocably in love. It is a book that perfectly captures their story of not only same-sex love but also the uncertainties of falling in love, the highs and lows that come with it and the very beautiful, immense feeling of being in love.

It's one of the best enemies-to-lovers books that I have read. I have, in fact, read it more than five times till date, and I am sure to read more. The book is comfort to me- a safe space with bubbly and wholesome writing that perfectly condenses a romcom style sappiness into words. There's a lot of things that are put to stake at the end of the book, which hooks the reader till the very last page. McQuiston has you rooting for the characters, keeps you asking, "will they, won't they?".

“Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some.”

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a classic romance story with a hint of added spice to it. Great characters; smooth, connective writing, and a wonderful plot make this book a must have for anyone.

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5)

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi is a retelling of the popular children's fairytale, Cinderella. Alizeh, the lost queen to a lost Kingdom, is a Jinn. She is forced to make her living as a servant to survive. Her destiny spirals and other characters and elements come into play, urging her towards her throne. This book is a part of a series, with the third book not out yet.

The story, is a carbon copy of the fairytale, however, Mafi gives it her own voice, infusing Persian and Muslim mythology into the story. The narrative is gripping and enjoyable. The story takes a bit of time to speed up and get interesting. It is, though, an enjoyable fantasy romance with good pacing. The characters are well written.

“Fire was her soul, but water was her life; it was all she needed to survive”

If you like Sarah J Maas and other such fantasy romance writers, it's a great book to add to your shelf.

Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

The Henna Artist explores the life of a woman named Laxmi who aspires to be self made and gain independence from her abusive husband, Hari.

“Success was ephemeral—and fluid—as I’d found out the hard way. It came. It went. It changed you from the outside, but not from the inside. Inside, I was still the same girl who dreamed of a destiny greater than she was allowed. Did I really need the house to prove I had skill, talent, ambition, intelligence?"

It is a most poignant read that accurately portrays to the reader the struggles and triumphs of a woman striving to make her place in a man's world. While the trope may sound overdone or cliche, the author does a great job in making the narrative original. Set in Jaipur, after the Independence Era of India, the book also describes the exquisite artiste culture of the Pink City. The author strings a group of well-written characters into a well-written plot that is driven by Laxmi's internal conflicts after her sister, Radha, who she did not know exists, turns up at her door. The henna artist's life spirals beyond her control and she struggles to bring it under her grasp.

The story that follows is an extremely thought-provoking yet wholesome read, necessary for every read to have read atleast once in their life. I, for sure, know that I will be coming back for multiple rereads of this book.

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5)

The Shining could be called a figurehead for both the horror genre of literature as well as of all the books written by the author. My expectations were mounted high but weren't lived up to. Not to say the book is bad, but it is not as excellent as some of the reader audience makes it out to be either.

"Monsters are real. Ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win."

The book is about Danny, a nine-year-old boy who has special psychotic powers with which he can glance into things other people cannot. This power multiplies and becomes more active when he has to move into the Overlook Hotel where his father has been appointed as the caretaker. The book shows the downward spiral of the family into insanity as the Hotel plays its spooky magic into each of them.

One thing I admire about this is that it is as much a psychological thriller as it is a horror novel. The scary and creepy aspects of the book were put together competently but the author, through his writing, projects a window into each of the character's minds, adding so much dimension to the book.

Sometimes, however, the book came across as listless and felt like it was written by a child. Horror is not my genre, which may affect the way I see the book, but if you want to get into this particular genre, I would. suggest this book as a starting point.

Rating:★★★(3/5)

The Kite Runner is another very beautiful and poignant book that has the ability to touch your heart and steal a place in it. It talks about the redemption of a boy named Amir from his horrible past. It is a story of love, friendship, redemption, family set in Afghanistan.

"For you, a thousand times over."

This book can wrench your heart and probably squeeze out a few tears from your eyes as well. It fully embodies what it is to love, to lose, to grieve and to suffer. It takes the reader on a journey so poignant and powerful, you can feel all the emotions of the character. Beautifully embellished culture and pieces of traditions from Afghanistan make frequent cameos in the book. The war torn country perhaps reflects the state of Amir's heart as well and beautiful symbolisms and naunces make the book a literary masterpiece.

Books like these are not really my type, and yet managed to make me love it. A beautiful book, worthy of a place on your shelf.

Rating: ★★★(3/5)

Song Of The Silk Road is one of the most immersive and beautiful books I have ever read. It talks about the journey of Lily Lin, a twenty nine year old woman living in New York, who goes on an adventure across the desolate Taklamakan Desert in China and has to complete the most bizzare of tasks to earn the prize for completing the journey- a whopping three million dollars.

It's a beautiful and heart touching story, one of the best contemporaries I've ever read. The way the story enfolds, the rich-in-detail descriptions of the placs Lily journeys to, and the characters, which are few but complex, are written with a skillful hand. All of the bizzare tasks Lily has to perform have a slight comical effect but the underlying allegories are mesmerizing and take a hold of you as you read it.

I paced through the book really fast- It kept me hooked till the very end, not too verbose but articulate, and I see no reason it should get any less than the five stars it deserves. If you are looking for a provacative contemporary read, this one's for you. It's sure to touch your heart and steal a place in it.

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5)

Jane Eyre might just be my new favorite classic from now on. This 19th century romance put down by Charlotte bronte is an absolute masterpiece. Safe to say, I had a great time reading it and could not put it down- considering the fact that I have never said this for any other classic, ever!      

The book follows our protagonist Jane Eyre, whose life takes a new turn as she, an orphan, is sent to a new school by her vicious aunt, Mrs Reed. Her fears and anticipation of this new life and what is to follow is mapped in this book.                 

"I would always rather be happy than dignified." 

The best part of reading this absolute masterpiece was Jane Eyre herself. Her character is one of the most well-crafted characters I have ever read about. Her strength to face whatever life throws at her, her rational opinions presented in equally rational speech, her ability to stand up for herself, her strong voice and kindness and empathy for others. All this shows Charlotte Bronte's thinking was way ahead of her time. I'm a sucker for such novels with strong female heroines and obviously, I loved this book too. Usually, classics equals boring or monotonous for me. Jane Eyre was far from it. I kept wanting to see what new obstacles Jane Eyre would face next and how she would face it.                                                           

A wonderfully written novel that keeps you entertained- what more would you want? This would be a great addition to your classics shelf, and if you want to curl up in your blankets drinking a warm cup of tea with music, this book is the one to choose. I recommend it a hundred percent.

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5)

“Letting go isn’t about forgetting. It’s balancing moving forward with life, and looking back from time to time, remembering the people in it.”

You've Reached Sam is a book with deep and heavy feelings. Dustin Thao's heart has reached onto its pages, it seems. It's a book about dealing with grief and the themes relating to it. When Jules Clarke calls her dead boyfriend to hear his voice one last time, he unexpectedly picks up. The events that follow are written in this book. Jules' beautiful journey of dealing with the death of Sam, the stirring prose it was written in, the character arc of Julia and how she learns to accept Sam's painful death is wonderful to read. The book made me bawl my eyes out and I was stuck to it, finishing it in one day. It is three hundred pages worth of heart touching emotion.  This book is perfect for someone dealing with grief, or if you want to sob and cry over a book, this one's for you. I recommend checking the trigger warning for this book as it is a bit heavy and has themes of grief and death.

Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

“The things about Shakespeare is, he's so eloquent...he speaks the unspeakable. He turns grief and triumph and rapture and rage into words, into something we can understand. He renders the whole mystery of humanity comprehensible.”

If you took The Secret History and made it shorter but much more entertaining, you would get If We Were Villains. This is an absolute masterpiece written by M.L. Rio and I love every page of it. It is about a coterie of friends who are peacefully attending college until one of them gets murdered and the crime investigation that follows leaves them broken. The narration is wonderful, it pulls you into the story. It references Shakespeare a lot, which is something I personally enjoy. The dialogue is perfect, seems natural and is entertaining. The plot is presented in flashbacks. It was a quick read which was amusing and touching at the same time. The story is entertaining as well. The book id great for filling up your time and for a casual read. It deals with themes like jealousy, tragedy, betrayal and revemge. It could almost be called a Shakespearean tragedy as this book has flawed characters and well written plot lines. If you love Shakespeare, or if you loves The secret history, you might want to have a look at this book. Even if your dont, this book is worth a try.

Rating:★★★★★ (5/5)

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”

The Shatter me series, so to say- didn't shatter me. It did not leave a huge impact on me, as I thought it would. But the storyline was very enjoyable, albeit it was sometimes repetitive. The series is filled with a whopping number of eleven books, six novels and five novellas, which did give an insight into MAfi's world but were unnecessary. The characters were a bit two-dimensional for me, with a few exceptions, but Mafi was able to make me fall in love with those few characters.

Juliette's- the main character- progress and character arc was incredibly paved. She is a very good example of a character who had an incredible character arc. While I think that the series would have sufficed with the first three books, the other three were enjoyable nonetheless. Dystopia is a genre I love, and the dystopian characteristics and features of this book were well built. The Shatter Me series follows Juliette Ferrars, a girl whose touch has the power to kill. She has been locked away in an asylum, and when she finally finds the courage to fight back, she breaks free of the four walls that lock her down. Whatever ensues- is a whirlwind of happenings that will be able to entertain you if you are invested in the story.

While I didn't think it was excellent, it wasn't bad either. the series altogether gets a neutral three stars from me. If you want a quick, engaging fantasy-dystopian series The Shatter Me books are perfect for you.

Rating: ★★★ (3/5)

Project Hail Mary is one of the best science fiction novels I have ever read and it quickly made Andy Weir one of my favorite authors. He has put everything in the making of this book and his genius amazes me. The plot pans out so impressively and all the little surprises and twists made this book unputdownable. I finished it in three days and was absolutely engrossed the whole time.

“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”

The book is about Dr. Ryland Grace, who is sent to space to prevent alien microorganisms from swallowing up the sun. The book mixes science fiction with science fact and it is the best combination. It does have a lot of science, but it's understandable enough and if you love science and physics, this book is for you. It's fast- paced, fun and immersive. Not only that, but the fact that it is so well narrated in a humorous way, is a cherry on top. I have been recommending this book to everyone.

If you enjoy science fiction or want to read Andy Weir's books, you should definitely get this book. Even in general, it's a valuable and fun addition to your shelf which you can reread over and over again.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Review by Elizabeth Turner

"Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shapes your habits." 

Atomic Habits is a renowned book, so I thought I'd give it a try and you should too. This is a self help book that outlines a very clear and straightforward method to building new habits and breaking bad ones. Clear uses examples, experiments conducted by scientists, stories from his own life to explain how to build small habits that will benefit you on a greater scale in the future. It's a great book for anyone to read, it inspires you to build a better lifestyle, to build better habits so that your life can improve and you can set yourself on a pathway to success. I would recommend every single person to read this book; that's how great it is. Implementing the things in this book into your routine will be a different thing, but Atomic Habits definitely is worth a read.

Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

Review by Elizabeth Turner

I read People We Meet On Vacation while on vacation, which proved an appropriate title at that point but then that was it. While the book does give immaculate descriptions of probably all tourist spots over the world, that was it. The book tells its readers the story of Poppy and her best friend, Alex who go on a vacation together every year. We follow every little tedious detail of their trips and there isn’t really much happening.

“I still have a lot to figure out, but the one thing I know is, wherever you are, that’s where I belong. I’ll never belong anywhere like I belong with you.”

Sometimes, there are moments that are very touching, where it seems author Emily Henry is reaching out to your heart and taking the truth out and putting it on the page. But these moments do rarely appear, and the rest of the story is a bit boring and meandering. Apparently, it was based on When Harry Met Sally and is supposed to be about finding where home is, this only shows in the last parts of the book leading up to the epilogue.

This trope has now become a bit old and cliche for me, but if you like cheesy themes, absolutely beautifully written descriptions of serene places, you might want to try out this book. For me, it was one of those books where it is not too bad nor too good, but if you want to read to pass time while waiting at an airport or in a little cafe, you might want to make a place for it on your shelf.

Rating: ★★★(3/5)

Daughter of the Deep is a fantastical book. Just when you thought Uncle Rick was done with writing books, he comes up with another bestseller filled with adventure and diverse characters. Daughter of the Deep is a retelling of the novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by the French novelist Jules Verne. A fresh take on the classic novel filled with fun, adventure and pages smattered with marine biology is what this book is.

"The impossible is merely the possible for which we don't yet know the science"

The main character, Ana Dakkar is a South Asian, hailing from Bundelkhand, which means a lot to me, considering the fact that this is the first english book that I have read that stars an Indian character. This book features the classic writing style of Uncle Rick- a diverse set of characters, from those who are autistic to those who are Brazilian, an adventure that leaves you immersed and engrossed in the story and a splash of culture here and there, and that is only the least of it.

I finished this book in two days, and I desperately wanted it to last longer so that I could stay with Ana on the ship Nautilus for a little while longer. I could heap lots of praises on this book because it deserves it and then some.

For someone who enjoys Riordan's writing, or someone who wants to get started with his books, or is looking for a retelling based on a Jules Verne book, or is looking for a refreshing read that will warm your heart- you need not look further.

Rating: ★★★★★(5/5)

Review by Elizabeth Turner

In A House Of Lies is by far one of the most slow-paced yet action packed crime thriller novels I have read. There is a lot going on in the book, the plot and subplot is carefully laid out, but it has no swing to it. The way the plot moves forward doesn't satisfy nor excite you. It lacks the surmounting tension a  mystery novel is supposed to have. This book tells the story of Detective Inspector Shiobhan Clarke, who is set out to find the murderer of Private Investigator Stuart Bloom, whose body resurfaces after twelve years of his death. The previous investigation, which also included DI Clarke's mentor, John Rebus, had a lot of holes and gaps in it, and it is now up to DI Clarke to root out the killer.

While the synopsis does sound exciting, the novel managed to disappoint me. The writing was slow- which was made worse by the fact that there was no nail-biting, on-the-edge-of-the-seat action going at most places. The speed and action of the story picks up only at the end, and I felt that the climax was a let-down, lacking a lot of things the endings of a crime novel should have. It was a drag to finish four hundred and thirty pages of this book and I was glad when I reached the end. But- It was refreshing to see a female detective other thaan Nancy Drew star in the pages of a crime thriller. I wouldn't recommend this book- not by a far shot.

Rating: ★★(2/5)

Review by Elizabeth Turner

this is a small post about how i read shakespeare, which is not by any means a definite guide, its just how i read shakespeare. hope it helps :)

I have this copy of Shakespeare's sonnets, published by Macmillan Popular Classics, Pan Macmillan.

I first have a read through of the sonnet, and try to understand the lines. I would advise not directly jumping into the poetry guides becuase it is very important that you try to interpret the poem in your own way. What I believe is that the poem is not only about what the poet has to say, it is also about the way you take it into account, so you should always read the poem in your own way first.

Next, I use this website to understand the lines I can't at first. It is a very, very helpful website which allowed me to understand a lot of poems. I read the lines one by one, first the original version then the mordern version. As I go along, I underline and write down the new words I cannot understand, and also some interesting points that are shown on the website like:

you may, of course, use a dictionary for new wourds if you like.

Next, I read the sonnet again, with the meaning in my mind and interpret it in my way, now being able to appreciate the beauty of the Bard's words. Then, I go to this site to read the summary of the poem, incase if I have missed any points. It gives an important insight to the meaning of the poem.

After annotating, I then read the sonnet all over again, taking the meaning, the words and my interpretation in, all of it increasing the beauty of the poem tenfold.

+BONUS: here is a playlist to listen to when you are reading shakespeare.

That's all!

Im sure you've heard of the new casting for Annabeth, who is our amazing Leah Jeffries. A lot of people have been very, very rude to her in terms of the fact that she is a black person who has been cast as Annabeth, who is white. As Uncle Rick rightly spoke out, that, my friends is racism. It is blatant racism, and I am going to outline a few points as to why Leah Jeffries is totally perfect for Annabeth and why you should not be an ass about this whole thing.

1. She was probably casted because she performed really good in her audition or the casting directors thought her acting as Annabeth was phenomenal. She has not been cast to force diversity on anyone through the show

2. And even if they did, I do not see what the problem is because we need that representation.

I do know that we are living in 2022 and the numbers may have increased but the lack of black representation is harrowing. This leads to the creation of stereotypes and it puts a sort of cage onto people who aspire to be actors someday and are put in the back of the line because of their color. And this is not just about the media. This happens everywhere. People of color get backlash just becuase of their skin, which is a baseless action in itself. And now that we have a black Annabeth, things like these set precedent for further representation.

3. Little young girls are going to be watching the show, and they will see a beautiful black girl like them on screen, which will encourage them to see the fact that they can be badass themselves, and I cannot envision a more wholesome scene like this. After an eternity of the main female characters in stories being white, young poc girls are getting a chance to see themselves and identify themselves with the main character of a story. And this is the sort of thing we need at this moment. I hope to see more representation in the show, and not just in terms of poc's.

4. Uncle Rick is undeniably very happy to see Leah Jeffries as Annabeth and you can practically feel his smile through the photo of him with the cast. He has spoken out on twitter against the racism Leah is facing. If Uncle Rick does not have a problem with Annabeth being black, I do not see where you should have even an inkling of doubt about her. If Uncle Rick said she's good, she's good. Period.

5. If you think that anyone is forcing diversity on you, you can simply hold back from watching the show. No one is going to forcibly make you log in to your disney+ account and make you watch the show. All I ask is that do not post hateful/negative comments or posts about Leah anywhere. That is bullying AND racism. I urge you to remember that she is twelve. She is simply a child and has done nothing except being a phenomenal actor. The fact that Uncle Rick has had to speak out against this racism is bad, and I feel utter embarrasment at the thought that these people are a part of the PJO fandom, as this is exactly the sort of thing Uncle Rick discourages.

6. Someone raised the point that it would be damaging to Annabeth's character as she is blonde, and has to suffer throught the 'dumb blonde stereotype, well for that, I should think the answer is clear enough.

Thankyou,