Book Reviews
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Cruel Prince: Why the Folk of the Air NEEDS to be on your TBR
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Cruel Prince. The trilogy called Folk of the Air is a young-adult fantasy book that has captivated thousands by its charm. Holly Black, the author, wrote this in 2018 and even after 6 years its still the talk of, well, everywhere – from Booktok and Bookstagram to your local bookstore and coffee shops, you can’t go far without meeting a diehard fan. Sure, you’ve heard of it. But have you read it yet? If not… I’m here to convince you to. A little bit about the Cruel Prince… Politics or Romance? You jump into this book, thinking the love story will make you obsessed…
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Young Adult Murder Mystery Books: Genre Recommendations
Thrilling, intriguing, exhilarating, electrifying…. What are these? Perfect descriptions for the YA murder mystery genre. These books hold a certain kick for us, with the perfect combination of refreshing plot twists, horrifying betrayals and a momentous climax at the end. But when the suggestions run dry, a book slump might be incoming. If, that is, you hadn’t found In a Nutshell’s collection of the top Young Adult Murder Mystery Fiction Books. One of Us Is Lying Voila, our most recent read (as of this morning!). One of BookTok’s and Bookstagram’s favourites, I’m sure you’ll have heard of it. And its widespread acclaim is well-deserved, because with this book, you definitely…
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The Art of Positive Living | My Thoughts on the Book
Recently I’ve found my mind has been more inclined to see the negative view of life, rather than the bright and hopeful one that I’ve always tried to keep. So when I went to collect a long-forgotten book that I’d ordered from the library a while ago had just arrived, I took it as a – sign? No. A challenge. Since I opened this book, The Art of Positive Living :How to See the Good in Everyday Life, my life has taken a turn for the better. Come, and share in its magic of positivity. Note: this page contains affiliate links, from which I receive a small commission as an…
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Murder on the Orient Express – The Big Must-Read
As the title said, I think that this book is a big must read. I was wrong. It is a huge must read, at least for anyone who likes some mystery (or murder) in their books. Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie, is not just a worthy book because I read it in one go, less than half a day because I was so enthralled, but also because of everything I mention below. So, here’s the book – all In a Nutshell. This is a Christmas Special, where I post an extra article in the middle of the week as a present. Merry Christmas, everyone! Note: this page…
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The School for Good and Evil: My Quick Thoughts
In next week’s post, we’ll be talking about how to refresh after a long, long read, and get back on track. Kind of incidental that that was inspired by recent personal experiences, from a book that pulled me in. I couldn’t stop reading, and read most of it in one day, and all of it in nearly 24 hours, amongst doing other stuff. That book was The School for Good and Evil, and here are my thoughts. Before we start, check out my Instagram post featuring the School for Good and Evil… My Thoughts on The School for Good and Evil This book is very gripping. Not only that, there…
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Writing Your Book: 10 Ways to Get Inspiration for it
If you’re writing a book, you probably have already envisioned the end result. A gorgeous, glossy book with an incredible cover, that will reel in piles of cash. But, rewind a bit and the numerous challenges along the way can be very daunting – one of the main obstacles being writer’s block. Buckle your seat belt up and brace yourself, for after this post you’ll be a hundred miles closer to your end result. PART 1: Distance Yourself 1. Go for a walk Step outside into the brisk, fresh air to move away from the surroundings of your book. Your brain will feel relaxed and its writing ‘ideas maker’ will…
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Empress Dowager Cixi: A Biography to Read with Me
Dowager Empress Cixi revolutionised China, despite numerous obstacles in her way, including the inferior view of women at the time. Read this empowering biography with me, going behind the scenes and discovering what Cixi was really like, not just the common misconceptions. Jung Chang’s writing will keep you hooked all the way through as we travel through the years that shaped Empress Dowager Cixi, and that she used to shape China. (This post contains affiliate links, where I will get a small commision to support the website. At no extra cost to you!)
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She’s the Man: A Shake up of Shakespeare
This film gives Shakespeare a shake up and a refresh with its twist on Twelfth Night. Yep, it’s She’s the Man. • Comedy • Rom-com (Romantic comedy) • Romance • Teenage • Sports • BBC says about Twelfth Night: Twelfth Night is a fast-paced romantic comedy with several interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities and practical jokes. Separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario, and becomes a servant to the Duke Orsino. He sends her to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf, but the Countess falls in love with Cesario. Meanwhile Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, gets drunk with his…
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Jim Kay Illustrated the new Jaw-dropping Harry Potter Books
Harry Potter, a childhood favourite all of us (hopefully!) have read. But for the more serious fans of you all, this might just be your chance to dive back into the books and re-read them, because Jim Kay will amaze you with his illustrated Harry Potter books will take your breath away. ↑ But first, take a look at this board by In a Nutshell featuring a collection of illustrations from the books by Jim Kay ↑ A Bit About Jim Kay… He was born on the 4th April 1974, and is from Northamptonshire. Harry Potter is his biggest job and he’s still working on it! He’s also illustrated A…
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Things That Go Brilliantly with Books
As the rush of daily life resumes after the holidays, we need to remember to schedule in some down-time. And you know what down-time can mean – books. So here are lots of things that go brilliantly with books, for every season. Contents: Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Image by Kat von Wood via Unsplash Let’s start with winter, as that’s where we are now. The Sofa Have to start with this. Curling up on the sofa with a book? Perfect for cold days. Snow Even though to many of us this can only be a dream, books go with snow amazingly. A perfect snow day includes reading a book…