Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (book review) – the overlooked family of the famous William Shakespeare

An imagined story of Shakespeare's family life, focusing on what is usually mentioned only in footnotes - his wife and children, including the death of his son Hamnet during childhood. What's fascinating is that Shakespeare's name is not mentioned once in the story!

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (book review) – a modern classic on being Black in the 21st century

Last year I asked my best friends to share their favourites books of 2020 - see here the post. Americanah was one of the stories mentioned, one of the stories that I really wanted to read and see for myself why it was chosen as favourite. Well, it seems like Americanah might also make it … Continue reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (book review) – a modern classic on being Black in the 21st century

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (book review) – the award for the most consuming and heartrending book I’ve ever read

I must have heard of A Little Life from other bloggers. None of my friends read it, something I found out when I was craving to discuss it with someone. So - thank you, dear bloggers, for bringing A Little Life to my life.

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones (book review) – spotlight on domestic violence in the Caribbean

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House is a beautiful novel! Yes, it is sad and there are many violent acts illustrated in the story, but the narrative style and the different perspectives make is a very captivating read.

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook (book review) – surviving in the Earth’s last wildlife area

The New Wilderness caught my eye when it was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. I watched the online awards ceremony during lockdown and I remember being intrigued by the theme of the book ... sounded like a dystopia I would very much enjoy. Sometimes you just gotta' trust your intuition, don't you?

The End of the Ocean by Maja Lunde (book review) – before and after the water crisis hits the Earth

More than one year ago I read my first climate fiction book - The History of Bees by Maja Lunde. Ever since I've been (not so) patiently waiting for the release of the second book of the series - The End of the Ocean. Read it, loved it, ready to share my thoughts with you!

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré (book review) – a girl’s fight for education in Nigeria

The Girl with the Louding Voice tells an incredibly inspiring story of a young girl from Nigeria. It presents the realities of girls born in poor families in rural Nigeria and how domestic slavery is the beaten path for many of them. A story I recommend reading with all my heart!

Red Island House by Andrea Lee (book review) – heritage of Madagascar seen through the eyes of foreigners:

There is something magical about islands, and this book about Madagascar's heritage proves once again this point. "Red Island House" tells captivating stories of marriage and identity, love and loyalty, destiny and freedom. If you love discovering new cultures or you're interested in African heritage, this book is definitely a great option!

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (book review) – when remembering is a sin

The Memory Police tells the daunting dystopian story about an island controlled by... guess who?! The Memory Police. They are in charge of what people remember, what objects are burnt and forgotten, what beings and plants disappear. However, there are some people, the outlaws, who do not forget...