A Review of Kavita Bedford’s “Friends and Dark Shapes”: sharehouses, the gig economy, and millennial living
Australian / Book Reviews / The Latest

A Review of Kavita Bedford’s “Friends and Dark Shapes”: sharehouses, the gig economy, and millennial living

This is one of those times where I bought the book because the cover was just too beautiful. Despite the old saying about judging books, sometimes a good cover can work wonders on our buying habits – I am definitely not immune. The premise of the book – sharehouse living, figuring out adult life in … Continue reading

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book

When my father died in 2011, my whole world was flipped on its head. I have spent most of my 20s coming to terms with death, loss, and grief, and this is also evidenced in the types of books I have read throughout this time. This can be seen in my reviews of fiction works … Continue reading

“my wife said you may want to marry me”: a review of Jason B. Rosenthal’s memoir
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“my wife said you may want to marry me”: a review of Jason B. Rosenthal’s memoir

I wanted to like this book. I really did. As many of you know, I review and write a lot about grief here on Bound2Books so this memoir from Jason B. Rosenthal seemed like a no-brainer. The problems I have with this memoir are too many to out way anything else really. Firstly, the subtle … Continue reading

“The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak: Intergenerational trauma and healing through writing
Book Reviews / historical / The Latest / Turkish

“The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak: Intergenerational trauma and healing through writing

Shafak’s novel has a simple premise, love. And it might seem like a cliche, but it just works for this beautiful story. Defne, a Turkish woman, and Kostas, a Greek man, fall in love at the peak of the conflict in Cyrpus in 1974. Their love is helped along by a beautiful mixed Turkish and Greek couple Yusuf and Yiorgos and a little tavern called “The Happy Fig”. Continue reading

Be “Your Own Kind of Girl” in 2021: A book review of Clare Bowditch’s memoir
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

Be “Your Own Kind of Girl” in 2021: A book review of Clare Bowditch’s memoir

Clare Bowditch became famous for her singing and songwriting in Melbourne, Australia from the early 2000s. She also went on to be an actress in a nationally famous T.V. series Offspring. Of course I had heard of her music, but I never really grew up listening to her songs. Similarly, I am not one for … Continue reading

How To Get Out of a Reading Slump
blogging / Opinion Pieces / reading / The Latest

How To Get Out of a Reading Slump

Today, I wanted to hit pause on my usual book reviews and bookish articles and have a chat about what it is like to be in a reading slump when you have a book blog. As you can imagine, it can be pretty frustrating to be in a reading slump when you have a book … Continue reading

Some Lockdown Thoughts
Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Some Lockdown Thoughts

I am not really sure where this post will end up taking me, but I felt like sharing some of my thoughts about being in lock down in Melbourne. I haven’t been to my office since March this year. I am fairly good at adapting and working from home definitely has its perks, but it … Continue reading

A Review of “Happy Never After”: owning our sadness, grief, and all those other uncomfortable things adults never talk about
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

A Review of “Happy Never After”: owning our sadness, grief, and all those other uncomfortable things adults never talk about

I am frustrated today. Honestly, the day could not have felt more shitty if it tried. Sure, there were lots of okay things that happened, but my general mood has oscillated between “Fuck this” and verging on tears. I am currently looking for work, an arduous task done in silence and solitude because heaven forbid … Continue reading