5 Life and Writing Lessons From A World Famous Author
Book Reviews / Japanese / nonfiction / The Artistic Process / The Latest / writing

5 Life and Writing Lessons From A World Famous Author

His latest work though is a very different kind of book. Instead of creating worlds in a well or alternate universes through tunnels, Murakami has released a book about his experiences as a career author, and in it, he details all the highs and lows of what it is really like to write books for over 35 years. In this book, he talks about each section being a speech rather than an essay or memoir, and I feel like that is perhaps the best way to think of this book. It does feel like Murakami is talking to you – delivering a speech at a graduation or event. Considering that Murakami rarely makes public appearances, he does this kind of speech writing well. Continue reading

“True Friends” by Patti Miller: what does it mean to write a memoir about friendships lost and found?
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“True Friends” by Patti Miller: what does it mean to write a memoir about friendships lost and found?

I think everyone experiences the loss of a friendship at some stage in their life, sometimes multiple friendships and the reasons for these losses are vast, complex, and sometimes confusing. It can be as simple as a friend moving to a different state and losing touch. It can be from a fight. And it can also be a slow unwinding that can be anything from ghosting to drifting apart. We have a lot of words to describe romantic love and breakups – we have song after poem, after novel after film about romantic love. Although very little about friendships. Continue reading

15 Black Feminist Books to Read After “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
African / American / Australian / Book Reviews / feminism / The Latest

15 Black Feminist Books to Read After “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I might make a very small commission. This helps me directly fund my blog. It is no secret around here that I absolutely loved Honorée Fanonne Jeffers’s novel The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois. It was just such a … Continue reading

8 Ways to Help Someone Who is Grieving
Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

8 Ways to Help Someone Who is Grieving

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I might make a small commission from the sale. This helps me directly fund this blog. I write this from someone who has lost a father at age 24 and a brother at 34. I write this as someone who has … Continue reading

Book Review of “Wild Souls” by Emma Marris: Rethinking nature conservation and the wild
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Book Review of “Wild Souls” by Emma Marris: Rethinking nature conservation and the wild

This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the link, it might mean that I can make a small commission. This helps keep my blog alive. Emma Marris’ book Wild Souls was an easy read for me at the beginning of 2022. I saw it in the nonfiction section at my … Continue reading

A Review of “The Lie Tree”: the power of a lie
Book Reviews / British / crime / fantasy / The Latest

A Review of “The Lie Tree”: the power of a lie

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. Frances Hardinge’s The Lie Tree was the perfect read for my summer holidays in Catania last week. The book is fast paced with some good suspense and plot development. At the core … Continue reading

(Re)-defining survivor/victim stories: a review of amanda lovelace’s new poetry collection
Book Reviews / British / nonfiction / poetry / The Latest

(Re)-defining survivor/victim stories: a review of amanda lovelace’s new poetry collection

Her third collection aligns with her previous works and centres on themes of self (re-)discovery, how to find your own voice again, and the struggle with remembering and letting go of the past. Continue reading

“The Drum that Beats Within Us”: a review of Mike Bond’s eco-critical poetry collection
American / Book Reviews / poetry / The Latest

“The Drum that Beats Within Us”: a review of Mike Bond’s eco-critical poetry collection

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. Mike Bond’s eco-critical poetry collection The Drum that Beats Within Us is a collection of poetry that asks us to look at our environment through the eyes of animals and also asks … Continue reading

A Review of “Tiny Hot Dogs”: recipes for life and food
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

A Review of “Tiny Hot Dogs”: recipes for life and food

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. Mary Giuliani’s memoir Tiny Hot Dogs: A Memoir in Small Bites intrigued me because I love talking about food as much as I love reading. Just yesterday I had a friend over … Continue reading

Writing Done Right
blogging / Opinion Pieces / The Latest / writing

Writing Done Right

Writing projects of any length can feel daunting. I’ve talked about how hard it can be to write long writing projects here. The whole process can feel overwhelming and whilst it can be difficult to start a project, it is often harder to finish it. And finishing it does not mean writing the last word, … Continue reading