How do you read so much?

I was having a conversation with a friend a few days ago who was impressed that even whilst being a uni student I am still able to finish pleasure books. It got me thinking about habits I have formed over the years. This is something I shared with him as to how I achieve this.

1-What kind of books do you like? What excites you the most? Your more likely to want to pick it up if your reading what you like not what you think you SHOULD like.

2-Do you do lots of travel? Car? Try audio books it’s amazing how much goes in even if you are doing the dishes or some boring mindless task.

3-Make the time try to read a chapter whilst you drink your morning coffee (I can’t stand it but you get the point) or are you better before bed (I am usually here my morning is too hectic).

4-Have a book with you everywhere (almost) I went to the shopping centre and had done my tasks early before I was being collected so I found a coffee shop and got about 10 pages read. Same for being on busses, trains ect.

5-Set a goal this week I want to read x chapters a night when I get in a slump I say ok I’m going to aim to read 2 pages (seems silly) but it’s so low I will be like ohh maybe I could read another 5 and suddenly I have read way more. If after those original 2 I’m like nahh then ok cool I can move to the next thing but I’m still 2 pages further on than where I was.

Take care,

Dolphin xx

April and May reading wrap up

This felt more productive in terms of my reading.

April stats

Total pages -758

Physical-1

Audio-1

Ebook-0

Total-2

The first book finished was Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes. I enjoyed the shock of the characters from the different times in history.

The second completed book was The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. The continuing story was really engaging and a lot of fun. I would never have guessed who the culprit was!

May

Total pages- 853

Physical-2

Audio-1

Ebook-0

Total-3

And Now For The Good News by Ruby Wax. This was really informative and I found out some really cool things. (I’m not spoiling it you will have to read it). I love the humour in the way she narrates the book.

The Unpredictability of being Human by Linni Ingemundsen. It was really interesting to see the world from someone who is autistic but doesn’t live in the same country as me.

The final book of the month was I Hear The Sunspot- Theory of Happiness by Yuki Fumino. I loved how this continued and can’t wait to read the next and possibly final volume.

I hope you have read some good books. Let me know below.

Take care,

Dolphin xx

January February and March 2023 reading wrap up

Hi,

I hope you have had a great start to the year.

I had a lot to do in January with many college assignments due as a result was unable to finish any books. Therefore this post will show the first three months of the year with reviews for two.

Feburary

Pages- 668

Audio books-1

Ebooks-1

Total- 2

I was able to finish off a book that was on the go in January this was Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella it had been a while since I read a book from this author. The writing style was more engaging than I had expected. The premis of the book didn’t fully catch my attention. I have read many of her books and enjoyed them so decided to give it a go. It was a good decision to continue as it was very enjoyable.

The second book read was The Dying Doll by A D Fox this is the first in her adult crime series. It was very exciting to read her adult fiction. Once this was started I couldn’t put it down. Another thing I really liked was knowing places that were mentioned that I had been to as it was local to me. The descriptions were great it enabled me to picture the scene in front of me. The ending was a complete surprise I couldn’t see that coming. At times it felt grusome but not enough to stop me reading.

March

My reading picked up this month which I am very happy about.

Pages- 793

Physical- 1

Audio- 2

Ebook-

Total- 3

The first book of March was Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This was a very enjoyable audio book. Tennis is not something that usually peajks my intrest but decided to give it a go. I gained a lot of knowldge from this book about how much players go through.

Next finished was The Patient by Jasper DeWitt. As I listened to this book it got stranger and stranger. There were times it freaked me out a bit.

The final book in March was I hear the Sun Spot by Yuki Fumino. This is one of a handful of manga style books I have read. One of the main characters is deaf. Having disability representation is important. Especially when you see how amazing the person is and not just their issues.

Take care,

Dolphin x

November and December Wrap ups

Hi,

I hope you are doing well. Wow this really is my last blog post of 2022!

There was so much colllege work I didn’t have much time to read.

Physical-1

Audio-1

Ebook-0

Total-2

Total pages-772

The very first book I completed was Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. This was similar to the film but had a better theme of friendship to it. The best character has to be Roger he was so fun. Listening to this felt as if I was on the island with them. Everyone grew in confidence as the book went on. It will be interesting to find out what happens in the next book.

The other book I finished was School of Alyxa Secrets and Shadows by R L Ferguson. This was about a school for children with powers that involve the five senses. It was really interesting and such a unique concept. I love how the new pupil kept asking questions and eventually got to the bottom of the mystery.

In the final month of the year, I managed;

Physical-1

Audio-3

Ebook-0

Total-4

Total Pages-1,135

Year total books-54

The first book was No Man’s Land by David Baldacci I enjoyed some of this but there were parts that didn’t feel relevant. A couple of the characters were a bit confusing because of their descriptions. I enjoyed it overall. He has so many books I’m excited to explore.

I then finished Peter Pan by J M Barrie. This was darker than I had expected. It was great to know some of the details. As a child this wasn’t a book that I read so it was a magical experience even as an adult. There were some words that I didn’t think children knew with in this, having to check their meanings was quite exciting.

Thirdly, The Raven Riddle by Vashti Hardy was a sweet two-hour audiobook. The friendship between Grace and Tom is really sweet. The witch did seem quite odd but I assume that was the idea. I am undecided if this series will be one to continue.

Finally, Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williams. I loved Ro as a character it was interesting to see a book from her perspective as she is someone who likes to fade into the background. It felt very real. This book took a difficult topic like hoarding and made it much more understandable to people. The difference between Ro and Tanvi was interesting to see unfolding. I would like to read from this author again.

Have a wonderful new year.

Thankyou to each of you who have read any or all of my posts please know you are appreciated. If my reviews have made you want to pick up any books please let me know.

Take Care,

Dolphin xx

September and October wrap ups

Hi, let’s start with September. I am at college now which means less time to read what I want.

Physical-1

Audio- 3

Ebook-

Total-4

Total pages-1,565

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass. This was such a great book lots of action but the love story was also really good. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. This was my first experience with an assassin and it has made me want more.

Cress By Marissa Meyer. This has been really good so far as a series. I love the way that previous books are intertwined. This took me a little bit longer to work out which retelling this was.

Missing You by Harlan Coben. This had so many layers making me constantly guess what was going to happen next.

Through The Woods by Emily Caroll. Horror is not something that usually catches my eye. With this being a graphic novel however, I thought it was worth a try. The colours added to the overall effect. It was very odd the separate stories did run into each other a bit.

October was a really good month.

Physical-2

Audio-4

Ebook-0

Total-7

Total pages -2,694

The first book to be finished was Piranesi by Susanna Clark. It took me a long time to read this considering it was a small book. I didn’t enjoy endless descriptions of hallways and statues. I had guessed the ending from about half way through. Most of the time I was really confused.

Next was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling . This was much more enjoyable and there were quite a few details I had forgotten. It is great fun to get emerged in this world.

I was also able to finish The Griffin Gate by Vasti Hardy. This was a sweet story for children, the feel of the books are very different from other things I have read. (Steam punk possibly.) It is a really unique setting and concept of warders being able to help and fix issues.

Winter by Marissa Meyers was my next book to be finished. I have really enjoyed this book as a lot of things have slotted into place it was very interesting. I was often listening late into the night. The depth of this world gets better with each book.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley was the next thing I was able to listen to. I really enjoyed this. I was shocked by the ending and didn’t see it coming. There were so many details that added to the feeling of the book.

Then came The Puffin Portal by Vasti Hardy. Again, sweet story. It was a nice single sitting audio book.

The final book of this month was another quick listen. Millions by Frank Cotterell. I enjoyed how the two brothers were so different. I think one of the boys has Autism and it was shown really well. It was really cool that his passion is Saints from around the world. It was also good at addressing the feelings that can come up after losing a parent whilst staying positive.

That’s all for now.

Take care,

Dolphin xx

August Wrapup

Hello I hope you are doing well and , have had a great month. I enjoyed taking part in JadeyRaeReads Polarthon readathon. This was a month long event.

Physical books-3

Audio books-0

Ebooks-1

Total- 4

Total Pages-1,492

The first book I finished in August was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling. This is my second favourite book in the series. The trials are really cool and very cleverly thought out. Ron and Hermione’s arguments are just really funny to me.

The second book I finished was a graphic novel All Time Low Presents: Young Renegades by Tres Dean. This is one that was saved so I could read it on my birthday as the release date was changed a few times. It was really cool the way the different songs were relevant to the story. The style of artwork was also really colourful making the whole experience even better.

Then I was able to finish the next book in a series that I have been reading for a long time. Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz. This is the eighth book in the Stormbreaker series. At times it was hard to keep track of the characters, this might be because book seven was read about a year ago. This felt like it had heigher stakes than previous books. During one particular setion I really was worried what the outcome might be. One thing that doesn’t make sense it it feels as though Alex is fourteen throughout the entire series but it has been set over multiple years.

The final book was The Guest List by Lucy Foley. As this was on my E-reader I have been slowly making my way through this book. It was really enjoyable to read even if I got a couple of the characters muddled up. It has been a while since I read a thriller. I had my prediction of who the killer was and really didn’t see the ending coming.

I am looking forward to taking part in Becca’s bookoplathon in September. What have you been reading?

Take care,

Dolphin xx

July Wrap up

Hi,

I can’t believe we are at the end of July already. I managed to start some bigger books and would like to continue this for the rest of the year. This may mean smaller wrapup posts or they may become bimonthly I haven’t decided yet.

Physical-1

Audiobook-1

Ebooks-1

Total-3

Total pages-1,236

The first book I finished was The Runaway Jury by John Grisham. This is usually an author I enjoy however, this specific book was not one I enjoyed this is partly due to the law case being around tobacco companies and smoking. There was a sub plot that made no sense to me. I will still read his works as I usually enjoy them.

The second book finished was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling. This is one of the two I enjoy the most within the series. The time turner is really cool. Sometimes I wish they were real so I can go back and change things, but I know this will mess things up.

The final book was Scarlet by Marissa Meyers. Another book within a series complete. I am really enenjoying these. I might look at what else is similar. It was really cool how it linked to the previous book.

Take care,

Dolphin xx

June Wrapup

Hi, I hope you are ok. This month I took part in Whaterveryouwantathon. This was hosted by Book Browsing Blog on You Tube. I loved that it was about taking time for you and had self care prompts too. I chose to be part of TBR Travellers which was great fun. Of the 24 prompts I completed 13 prompts this is more than I had expected.

Physical-4

Audio book-3

Ebook-0

Total-7

Total pages-2,092

The first book I finished was The Child Bride by Cathy Glass. This was difficult to read at times due to the nature of the content. A couple of parts I was able to guess but not the full extent. I took my time reading this as it got intense and hard to read. I am very glad she was able to recover from her experience.

The next book to be completed was The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. This took a while to get into as the first hour and a half was setting up the story. Once I got to know the characters it was really interesting to see how it all weaved together. At times it felt like too many characters to keep track of so I ended up rewinding quite a lot.

Next was Speechless by Kate Darbishire. I enjoyed this book as it is great to see a disabled main character. I was able to relate to some of her troubles.

I went on to finish Harley Hitch And The Iron Forest by Vashti Hardy. This was a super short audio book. It was centred around friendship and saving the environment. The vibes this book gave are not like anything I have read before. It makes me want to read more of her work.

Then I completed my reread of The Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling. This is a comfort series for me so I enjoyed being back at Hogwarts. The howler sent to Ron by his mum is still my favourite part.

The next book of the month was The Peculiar Tales Of The Tentacle Boy By Richard Pickard. This is my first experience with reading along with the audio book playing which was really cool as I felt it made it different. The part that I felt didn’t make as much sense was the characters saying “said” this then made it feel a little jarring.

The last book I was able to finish was Long way to Mercy by David Baldacci. This is a new author and I really enjoyed this audio book. It will be awesome to pick up some more of his books.

I am super happy with how the month went. What are you reading?

Take care,

Dolphin xx

May Reading Wrapup

Hi,

How are you doing? I have been very tired this month and therefore been taking my reading quite slow.

Physical- 4

Audio books-0

Ebooks-0

Total Pages- 1,240

Total- 4

Reached by Ally Condie. This is the final book in the Matched trilogy. There were lots of things I hadn’t picked up on in previous books that made me re think. The element of the big question being who is the pilot took far to long to be revealed. Some elements I felt were irrelevant which ended up in me being frustrated. I know this review is vague but I don’t want to include any spoilers.

Heartstopper volume 4 by Alice Oseman. This is another series I am now up to date with until the fifth book is released. This handled the topic of eating disorders really well. It is a difficult topic in general. The information given is accurate to my knowledge. Nick is so gentle with Charlie and understanding. Once again with it being a graphic novel the illistrations were adorable.

Big Panda Tiny Dragon by James Norbury. This was a very small book but was really sweet. It’s a little spirit lifter. The drawings on each page were really effective. The small amount of colours used worked really well.

Harry Potter and the Phillosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling. This is a re-read. My plan is to read one of these books each month to complete the series by December, however if it takes longer I don’t mind. This is a series that feels very comforting to me.

I hope you have been able to get some reading done too.

Take care,

Dolphin xx

April Wrapup

Hiya,

Hope you are doing well. I can’t believe we are at the end of April already. I spent a lot of the month finishing my college courrse making my reading a bit sporadic until we went away.

Total Pages-1,937

Physical books-4

Ebooks-0

Audiobooks-2

Total-6

The first book I finished was Rosie Loves Jack by Mel Dabon. This was a lovely (for most of it) story and it was great to see a disabled character being independent. The love felt so real and true. There was a big twist that I really didn’t see coming. The twist made me feel very uncomfortable but it was designed to.

The second book was Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella. This is a very old series but I still want to make progress on this. It was really easy to get invested in.This was as great as the other books. There are some parts of the main charater that I can relate to. The situations she finds herself in are outragous and seem ridiculous but that’s what makes it funny. It is a comfort series for me as it is so absorbing.

Next I finished Sad Perfect by Stephanie Eliot. This was about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. (ARFID) It was really interesting to find out about the thoughts and feelings behind this disorder. Alongside how much it takes over a persons life. This is a newer mental health issue so I didn’t know much about it. It was nice to have a book with short chapters.

The next book of the month was A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled by Ruby Wax. It was funny but serious at the same time. I listened to this whilst we were away. I loved the personal stories being woven in and how it felt like she was getting side tracked. This made it feel like a conversation.

Then it was Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy. This was a great adventure story about a race to a far away place using sky ships which I thought was really cool. I also loved the found family element. It did take a little while to fully understand the world but I think that was more down to me having to rewind the audiobook a lot.

The final book was Heartstopper volume 3 by Alice Oseman. Once again I loved this. Absolutely adorable it was great to learn a lot about not only the main characters but also the friends.

Can’t wait to know what you have been reading.

Take care,

Dolphin xx