Goodreads Blurb: The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her queen.
Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block, where Jane transformed her father’s greedy power grab into tragic martyrdom.
“Learn you to die,” was the advice Jane wrote to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and fall in love. But she is heir to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and then to her half sister, Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a Tudor son. When Katherine’s pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister’s scaffold.
“Farewell, my sister,” writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth’s suspicious glare. After seeing her sisters defy their queens, Mary is acutely aware of her own danger but determined to command her own life. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving Queen Elizabeth?
Goodreads Blurb: A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Unst, Shetland’s most northerly island, to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends to a Shetlander. But late on the night of the wedding party, one of them, Eleanor, disappears – apparently into thin air. It’s mid-summer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists. The following day, Eleanor’s friend Polly receives an email. It reads like a suicide note, saying she’ll never be found alive. And then Eleanor’s body is discovered, lying in a small loch close to the cliff edge.
Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to Unst to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Her interest in the legend of the ghost had seemed unhealthy – obsessive, even – to her friends: an indication of a troubled mind. But Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor’s death than there first appears.
Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that someone would kill – many years later – to protect?
Blurb: You’ll lose a lot of sleep…. Ralph does. At first he starts waking up earlier. And earlier. Then the hallucinations start – the colours, shapes and strange auras. Not to mention the bald doctors who always turn up at the scene of a death.
That’s when Ralph begins to lose a lot more than sleep. When he begins to understand why his hitherto mild-mannered friend, Ed, is getting out of control – dangerously so. And why his hometown is about to become the new Armageddon….
Goodreads Review: Oh my God that Ending! Fuck you Stephen King for making me feel all these emotions! The man should be in book prison for that ending alone 🤣
Goodreads Blurb: The Godfather—the epic tale of crime and betrayal that became a global phenomenon.
Almost fifty years ago, a classic was born. A searing portrayal of the Mafia underworld, The Godfather introduced readers to the first family of American crime fiction, the Corleones, and their powerful legacy of tradition, blood, and honor. The seduction of power, the pitfalls of greed, and the allegiance to family—these are the themes that have resonated with millions of readers around the world and made The Godfather the definitive novel of the violent subculture that, steeped in intrigue and controversy, remains indelibly etched in our collective consciousness.
Goodreads Review: I’ve a feeling I may not be supposed to root for these people as much as do – and I would feel guilty about that, but on the other hand the world is a very stressful place right now so … Wooh! Go Michael! Go Michael! Let’s get your Don on!!
Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch
Goodreads Blurb: From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the Great Pyramids, ancient Egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. Now, in Egyptian Mythology , Geraldine Pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of Egyptian Myth.
Goodreads Review: Man there were a lot of weird baby stories in ancient Egyptian Mythology – it says something about your Mythos when the Mpreg story is the least … well… certainly not the most weird.
And so we come to the end my Wee Readers – not with a bang or a whimper, but a playlist. To try something new I’m going to let you get a glimpse of this playlist – the first five songs to be precise – before inevitably pressuring you to click through to the whole thing through the link at the bottom of the post.
1. You Will be Found by Ben Platt
As one of the final songs in the Musical “Dear Evan Hansen” – a show that deals with teenage mental health, although admittedly of a different variety- this felt like the perfect song to open our Bubbles Galore playlist.
2. Not While I’m Around by Barbra Streisand
Huh, two for two with Musical songs. I felt this song perfectly encapsulated Bubbles’ feeling of protectiveness towards those she loves, and the deep seeded fear that something terrible was going to happen to them.
3. We are Family by Sister Sledge
A song meant to emphasise the love Bubbles holds for her younger sister … and her mother … but the sister felt like the relationship that was the most pertinent to the plot.
4. My Favourite Things by Julie Andrews
Sometimes a girl just wants to be a bit random, and shouldn’t we be allowed to do that.
It’s going to be the most boring year of her life. That’s what Bubbles has decided. This, her second year at the castle school, will involve no naked dancing, or television appearances. No fires in stone circles. No meltdowns. No hospital stays. You know, not like last year.
As she walks up the tree-lined drive towards the castle, she is immediately surrounded by TV reporters. Next she encounters the enigmatic and charming new boy, American student Aiden, and finds herself in an instalove situation. Being cast as the lead in a historical documentary is altogether too exciting and fun, as are the night-time visits to caves and underground chambers.
As Bubbles navigates her difficult home life, the complexities of her mental health and various intense experiences at the castle, she struggles to maintain equilibrium.
Will she be able to find balance amidst the chaos, or will her carefully laid ‘boring’ plan unravel completely?
Dive into this captivating coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery.
Goodreads Blurb:This book is fantastic and frightening, but entirely plausible. It doesn’t just seem scientifically possible, but its characters are living people shaken out of the civilisation they know into the horror of a world dominated by triffids.
The triffids are grotesque and dangerous plants, over seven feet tall, originally cultivated for their yield of high-grade oil. So long as conditions give the mastery to their human directors, they are a valuable asset to mankind. But when a sudden universal disaster turns those conditions upside down, then the triffids, seizing their opportunity, become an active and dreadful menace.
The story of what happens is told here by one of the few people lucky enough to escape the disaster.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Goodreads Review: Do Not Look Out the Window. I first read this when I was a child, and there’s always a fear that books you read in childhood won’t stand up to the scrutiny of your adult mind and understanding of the world. And that’s what I feared with this book. I’ve never been more pleased to be proven wrong. If anything it’s only gotten better 💫
Blurb: You lose three mates, ten babies, both parents, all your siblings and then every friend for scores of millennia and still entertain the concept of being ‘sweet’ on a dead woman still consumed by her own pain.
Doing It never had much meaning to Robin, even when he was alive. Now that he’s dead, it’s really just something to while away all the years. At some point he’s asked most of the ghosts if they want to do it. Some said no, some said yes. His only rule is, they have to genuinely want to do it, too. And, they mustn’t be too sad. One of the ghosts was too sad, for so long, so he waited. And waited.
Description: Over the years stuck as a Ghost, Robin propositions the other ghosts when he first meets them, except Mary who is too sad. You wouldn’t think this description would be of a heartbreaking story of loss, and the pain of years stuck in one place unable to even touch anything but your fellow ghosts. But that just goes to show, never judge a story by its initial premise.
Special Mention: Oh God, Robin’s speech to Julian at the end. ‘I was in tears’, does not put justice to the state I was in after I read this.
Warnings: Mentions of violent death, the loss of children, and other adult matter. Also Julian, he’s a warning all by himself.
What ho, Wee Readers – well I’m back, after a couple weeks hashing out and rearranging my interview with Ailish for the Wee Mailing List, I’m back to my own blog again. Although before I go on I would urge you to go look at her new book, Sisters at the Edge of the World. Not because I have any stake in it, it’s just a really good authentic book.
If you want to know why it feels so authentic, check out my previous post here.
But moving on to the actual meat – Ha! – of the post…
For anyone who follows my Instagram account, you might already be aware that I am a vegan, a big one. You may also be aware – if you’ve been paying close attention to my last few posts – that I am also currently working as a housekeeper at Whetherspoons.
What do these two things have to do with each other? Practically nothing. Except as a employee at Wetherspoons I not only get a free meal provided for me, I get 20% discount in all Wetherspoons.
And you know what that means?
That’s right, top nine list of the vegan stuff at Wetherspoons!
Well I think that’s enough of an introduction – onto the pictures of food now.
9. Tomato and Basil Soup
Rating: 5/10
A strong tasting bowl of thick tomato 🍅 soup.
Further comments: Be careful which tomato and basil soup you buy as they have two with the same name and one of them has milk in them
8. Beyond Burger
Rating: 8/10
For all those Junk Food Vegans out there, Wetherspoons has a burger that would make even McDonald’s jealous.
Further Comments: Lovely, if a bit rich for me.
7.Vegan Sausages , Chips and Beans
Rating: 7/10
A giant portion, including three veggie sausages, and a full plate of chips and beans.
Further comments: Chips were excellent, sausage was a bit too salty for me but I freely admit that’s a personal taste.
6. Fiesta Burger
Rating: 8/10
A heavy stack burger, featuring salsa, guacamole, and roasted vegetables. Served with a side of chips and onion rings.
Further comments : Delicious 🤤
5. Simple Mangalorean roasted cauliflower & spinach Curry with chips
Rating: 9/10
A rich, oily dish of potatoes, spinach and peppers and served with either chips or rice, this ///// Indian dish with make your mouth water just from the smell of it.
Further Comments: Spicy, but not so hot that it makes your eyes run.
4. Five Bean Chill
Rating: 9/10
A chili meal consisting of at least five kinds of beans and if im not mistaken quinoa in the mix as well. All served in a deceptively small bowl, accompanied by rice and tortilla chips on the side.
Further Comments: Deeply filling and the kind of meal that heats you up belly first on a cold day.
3. Jacket Potato with Five Bean Chili
Rating: 7/10
A combination of bake potato and their five bean chili, this dish is perfect for any vegan who needs a little kick with their jacket potato.
Further Comments: The smell alone can make your mouth water.
2. Bake Potato with Roasted Veg
Rating: 8/10
Talk about your gluten-free carb fest, this giant potato, piled high with succulent roasted veg and served with a glorious side salad of lettuce 🥬 , tomato 🍅 , cucumber 🥒 and Onion 🧅 is sure to sate the appetite of even the most hungry of vegans.
Further comments: That is one big ass potato 🥔
1. Takeaway Chips
Rating: 9/10
It might seem like a simple thing to put so high on this list – and yet Wetherspoons chips are gorgeous, and the fact that we can get them as a takeaway is just so exciting to me.
Additional comments: Yes, I’m very easily pleased – now shut up and let me eat my chips.
If you enjoyed this Wee Vegan list of mine don’t forget to follow the Wee Blog if you haven’t already. And check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Goodreads, Facebook and TikTok. Also sign up for the Wee Mailing List before November 21st for more lovely vegan pictures. Until next time Wee Readers, keep safe, keep sane and have a very bonny day.
What ho, wee readers, yes I’m back – not dead, just suffering from a bit of Blogger’s block. For the longest time I could not figure out what I wanted to write about next. I mean usually it’s a tv series I’ve been binging after work – at least lately – but I’ve sort of moved away from those in favour of films. And while I could do a list of those, ranking the top ten – and I may yet in the future – I had a better idea for a post to break my writer’s block.
A while back – after the terrible storm Arwen – we lost power for an entire day. And this was back in December, so it was dark and cold and most of our phones had not been well charged beforehand. During the light hours of the day this was manageable – we had books ( for entertainment), a fire (for warmth), and a gas cooker (for cooking). Really we were all set. But remember this was Scottish winter, and there really wasn’t a lot of light hours in the day at all. Which left large chunks of the afternoon and evening shrouded in darkness. We still had the fire and the cooker, so we were a lot better off than most people – but that still left us swimming in our own boredom.
The only device that still had some power in our house, was my Mum’s iPad. No internet of course, but she had the books in her kindle library, but only one person at a time could read them. Looking back now we could have read them out to each other, but hindsight is twenty twenty. But to cut a long story short we didn’t have to, for we found an audiobook already downloaded. Wow, that was a slightly long-winded and first world whining way to tell you my family’s started listening to an audiobook after dinner each night. Oh well, we got there eventually.
By now we’ve listened to too many audiobooks to possibly list them all here, so instead this will be a list of our top ten audiobooks. We will take into account strength in story, narration, production, and all round enjoyment. Rounding up each to a score out of ten. But since I’ll be polling my family members we might end up as slightly more than that – a perfect score should be 30 out of 30.
Let’s begin.
10. Northanger Abbey
One of Jane Austen’s earliest books. In theory it’s a bit of a parody of gothic literature of the time – with the main heroine convinced some heinous plan is a foot in the house she’s staying at. Which would be fine, if that was the main action of the story – instead we spend half our time in Bath, at diff balls and gatherings and the whole thing feels like it’s just running in place until she gets the invite to visit Northanger Abbey. It’s bad people, it’s really bad.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 0.5/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 0.5/1
Final Score: 6
Additional Notes: I can see why the publishers of the time refused to publish.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 1/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 0/1
Final Score: 6
My Scores
Story: 0/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 1/3
Overall enjoyment:0/1
Final Score: 4
High Score: 16/30
9. The Mermaid’s Sister
A fun story, with a clever fairy tail energy to it.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2.5/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 0.97/1
Final Score: 9.47
Additional Notes: It lost points due to violence. I liked the supernatural elements and the romance.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 7
My Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 7
High Score: 23.47 / 30
8. Station Eleven
A fascinating take on the post-apocalyptic genre, emphasizing the importance of art on people’s lives no matter what age you’re living in. As the book itself says ‘Survival is not enough.’
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 8
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
Additional Notes: Wow. Very well written, but heartbreakingly sad at certain parts.
High Score: 27/30
7. Grown Ups
A solid addition to the Marian Keyes Bibliography – telling the story of a very large and slightly dysfunctional family, and all the heartbreak and hijinks that go on in their lives. My only criticism – if you can really call it one – is that because there are so many characters, the opening scene at the family dinner is going to leave you a little confused, and trying to desperately remember all their names and who the heck they are. It does revisit that same scene again at the end, after an entire book getting to know these people, so I’m guessing that initial confusion was an intended reaction.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
Additional Notes: I liked the inclusion of a Syrian immigrant (Perla), even if she only had a minor role. It’s also good that it calls attention to abuse. It would have got a ‘3/3’ for story, if Nell and Ferdia had got a happy ending (I’m a hopeless romantic). It would also have been nice, if Mum was able to listen it with us.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
My Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
High Score: 27 / 30
6. Room
This is a Fantastic Book, stop reading this post – or rather pause reading this post – and go out and buy this book now. (Or search your library) Either way, find this book, and read it. Go ahead, we’ll all wait for you.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
Additional Notes: I liked the innocence of the child narrator.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 8
Additional Notes: Needed more than one male voice – all the men sounded like ‘Old Nick’ to me.
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
Additional Notes: Behold my new favorite book 🙂
High Score: 27 / 30
5. Rachel’s Holiday
I wouldn’t go out of my way to say that ‘Rachel’s Holiday’ is a better book than ‘Gown Ups’ – Marian Keyes’ other book on this list – because they’re very different books, about different topics. So in the end all I’ll say is, there is a reason that this is higher on the list.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2.9/3
Narration: 3/3
Production:3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9.9
Additional Notes: I liked how it addressed the issue of addiction.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 1/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 8
High Score: 27.9 / 30
4. The Hundred Secret Senses
I can’t say why – because spoilers – but this book moved me to tears.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 0.97 / 1
Final Score: 8.97
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
High Score: 27.97 / 30
3. Am I Normal yet?
Myself, and many of the members of my family have OCD tendencies – nothing like what this girl has of course, but still – so I felt greatly moved by this book.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2.9 / 3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 2.9/3
Final Score: 11.8
Additional Notes: I enjoyed the sweet romance and empathized with Evie’s condition.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 2/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 8
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 2/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
High Score: 28.8 / 30
2. Piranesi
This is my favorite book. Go out and read it now.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2.7/ 3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 0.99/1
Final Score: 9.69
Additional Notes: It lost points due to overall slow pace at the start. I liked the mystery and the existence of different universes.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 2/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 9
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
Additional Notes: This book was an experience – but I can’t really tell you about it, without taking that experience away from you. So go out and buy this book now, and don’t look to the end, just enjoy the journey getting there😁
High Score: 28.69 / 30
1. Longbourn
Basically this was Pride & Prejudice told from the servants’ point of view. This was a very good book, adding historical context which the original story – as good as it is – didn’t really have.
My Brother’s Scores
Story: 2.9 / 3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 2.9 / 1
Final Score: 11.8
Additional Notes: I like the alternative perspective on the Bennetts, Bingley owning slaves was intriguing and makes sense. I liked the sympathetic depiction of the lower classes.
My Mum’s Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
My Scores
Story: 3/3
Narration: 3/3
Production: 3/3
Overall enjoyment: 1/1
Final Score: 10
Additional Notes:
I loved this book. It’s one of the few, if only, retellings of Pride & Prejudice in which you leave liking Mr. Collins far more than Elizabeth Bennet.
High Score: 31.8 / 30
If you enjoyed this long delayed post of mine, why not follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. Also check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, Facebook and Kofi for the good stuff. Also sign up for the Wee Mailing list before the 31st of July to find out what Audiobook we’re currently listening to. Until next time, Wee Readers, stay safe, stay sane, and most of all have a very Bonny day.
The Wee Writing Lassie 