Want to travel in your armchair?

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the prices of items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

With sunnier months on the horizon, minds turn to travel and holidays. And so, in this post, I am pulling five great pieces of travel writing from my bookshelves and considering what lies between the covers.

Come with me, armchair adventurers!

1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

A very funny book.

At the age of forty-four, with his friend, Stephen Katz, Bill Bryson set off to hike the longest continuous footpath in the world; the Appalachian Trail. 

With brutal weather, insects seemingly striving to make the trek unbearable, unreliable maps and probably one of the least reliable hiking companions anyone could ask for, Bryson struggled on to achieve his ambition of hiking the trail, and not die in the process!

You can purchase A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson here.

2. The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Another Bryson because, well, he's one of the best travel writers to ever put fingers to a keyboard, not to mention one of the funniest.

This is Bryson's follow-up to Notes From a Small Island, his book about travels he took around Britain twenty-five years ago. To mark the twentieth anniversary of that best-seller, Bryson took another trip around this island and noted, once again, what he saw and experienced. Another humorous read from one of the masters of travel writing!

You can purchase The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson here.

3. Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw: Excursions in the Great Weird North by Will Ferguson

As all the best travel writing does, expect to be left with a desire to go wandering!

Will Ferguson spent three years travelling across Canada and back again. From seaplanes to canoes and many other modes of transport in between.

Along the way, the writer delves into Canada's history and landscape, explored here in this excellent book.

You can purchase Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw by Will Ferguson here.

4. Red Dust: A Path Through China by Ma Jian

An acclaimed and award-winning travel book from Ma Jian!

1983; a time of economic reform and youthful rebellion in Deng Xiaoping. Ma Jian's ex-wife was seeking custody of their daughter and his girlfriend was sleeping with another man. At a point of personal and wider upheavals, one day he bought a train ticket to the westernmost border of China and began a journey to find himself.

This is a piece of travel-writing written by an author that can call their subject home, but who was also an outsider; it reveals China as a land of contradictions.

You can purchase Red Dust by Ma Jian here.

5. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee

'The stooping figure of my mother, waist-deep in the grass and caught there like a piece of sheep's wool, was the last I saw of my country home as I left it to discover the world'

In London, a young Laurie Lee made a living as a labourer and playing the violin. But, desiring further adventure, and with just a blanket and a violin, he spent a year crossing Spain, from north to south. I discovered Laurie Lee only recently, I am ashamed to say, but fell for his beautiful and lyrical writing immediately.

Laurie Lee's writing is just wonderful.

You can purchase As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee here.

Just before you go, can I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me following in the footsteps of the great travel-writers, if only only from the comfort of home . . .

5 memorable dogs from literature

 

Monsta

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In 2019, just before Christmas, Monsta, my dog, my best friend, got sick. At first, I wasn't too concerned. She was still interested in her food and still had a light in her eyes. However, after a couple of days, and little change, we made a visit to the vets.

Over the course of days, she got worse. That light in her eyes dimmed. She stopped eating, and she was tired all the time. She didn't want to leave the bed or the sofa. I had to resort to carrying her about, and more vet visits followed.

As I write this, I feel the sadness blooming in my chest, wanting to burst behind my eyes.

Two years and two months later, I still miss the light in her eyes. I miss the strange sounds she'd make, like the high-pitched keening noise when she was anxiously excited by some silly thing. I miss the click of her claws behind me as she would follow me from one room to another. I miss the softness just behind her ears. I miss how she would look up at me when she walked beside me . . . I miss it all.

With Monsta in mind, I write this little list of memorable literary dogs, because they add a little something to the books in which they can be found, as they do our lives . . .

1. Bullseye, from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist has asked for more!

When he flees the workhouse, Oliver Twist finds himself taken under the wing of the Artful Dodger and falls in with a group of pickpockets in London.

Bullseye is the long-suffering companion of the cruel criminal, Bill Sykes, who mistreats his poor dog. The image of Bill Sykes and Bullseye, stalking dismal Victorian London, amongst the criminals and the wretched, is one that remains with the reader.

You can purchase a copy of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens here.

2. Montmorency, from Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog!) by Jerome K. Jerome

Three hypochondriacs, believing they are suffering from almost any malady you could care to mention, decide upon a restful holiday on the Thames, with Montmorency, the fox terrier, as companion.

This humorous novel depicts probably the worst holiday in literature, still providing laughs today, over one-hundred-and-thirty years after its original publication.

Montmorency shares the spotlight with the three men, and there are some comedic passages about the mischievous little fox terrier to be found within.

You can purchase Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome here.

3. Charley, from Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

In 1960, there was an itch in Steinbeck's feet that he couldn't ignore. Travelling America, through woods and forests, dirt tracks and highways, cities and wildernesses, he witnessed America and Americans with a humorous and sometimes sceptical eye. There is warning and prophecy in these pages, from one of the greats of twentieth-century literature.

And Charley, Steinbeck's French poodle, accompanied the great writer on his travels across America.

Actually his name is Charles le Chien. He was born in Bercy on the outskirts of Paris and trained in France, and while he knows a little poodle-English, he responds quickly only to commands in French. Otherwise he has to translate, and that slows him down.

You can purchase Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck here.

4. Toto, from The Wizard of Oz by  Frank L. Baum

Follow the yellow brick road . . .

Dorothy seems lost when a tornado picks up her and her little dog, Toto, from Kansas, and drops them in the wonderful world of Oz. Along the yellow brick road, she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. 

Toto is another loyal and goodly companion, a dog that has found his way firmly into literary history.

You can purchase The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum here.

5. Cujo, from Cujo by Stephen King

Once upon a time, not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock, Maine . . .

Cujo is a two-hundred-pound Saint Bernard, and the best friend that Brett Camber has ever had. After Cujo is bitten by rabid bats, he becomes a horrifying vortex, drawing in all the people around him, and is one of King's most memorable creations.

You can purchase Cujo by Stephen King here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, can I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the support really is a great boost!

If you can, please consider supporting, and, dog dads and mums, give your dog a hug. They aren't here long enough, and they are a gift.

I still bloody love you, Puppy Dog!

5 banned books from my bookshelves

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the items, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

I find it hard to believe that we still live in a world where books are banned (www.theguardian.com) and burned (www.theguardian.com). There is something sinister about a crowd cheering on as books are piled up and incinerated. Scenes like that are weighted by haunting images from ninety years ago. But, even without comparisons like that, it is a dumb, threatening, and violent act. It does nothing to challenge the ideas expressed in the works, it just obliterates them, in a way that can only be taken as intimidating and aggressive.

Of course, there are writings out there that are harmful, there are those that seek to incite hatred. There are those that have written in ignorance and, in their ignorance, potentially justify harmful ideology in the minds of others. What do we do about that, assuming that they ever get past editors and are published? Do we tear them from their platforms? 

You might hope that the ignorant writer never sees their work published or that, when they are challenged, they respond and a healthy debate is developed. One that exposes harmful and ignorant ideas for what they are, and leaves only truth. Alas, I'm afraid that sometimes the ignorant are turned in to martyrs when they are challenged and dethroned. Even fools need a king or queen to glory under, a banner to fly.

Whatever. I weep for the world sometimes, and I yearn for one in which pastors don't burn young adult fantasy fiction in the name of Jesus Christ. Personally, I think the sight of a crowd jeering and throwing books onto an inferno is a greater advertisement for a life without Christianity than anything in those books!

In todays post, I am going to take five books from my shelves which have been banned in the past, and consider them, their contents, and how they caused offense . . .

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

"We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft."

Huck escapes from his alcoholic father by faking his own death, and so begins his journey through the Deep South, seeking his own way, and his freedom. This novel takes in themes of prejudice, bravery, and hope, and is considered a great American novel.

This book came to be controversial because of its coarse language, including the use of racial slurs and the way in which Jim, a runaway slave and key character in the novel, was portrayed. However, there is much in Twain's story that shows he strove to humanise the character of Jim, though this might fall short in the eyes of modern readers. Language in the book, especially the racial slurs, have inspired conversation about how to teach literature, and issues found within, in classrooms. 

You can purchase The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain here.

2. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

"She had come to the real bed-rock of her nature, and was essentially shameless."

Constance Chatterley feels trapped in her sexless marriage to Sir Clifford. She is attracted to Mellors, her husband's gamekeeper, and she embarks upon a passionate affair with this man, an affair that brings new life to her stifled existence. This is considered one of the most controversial novels in English literature, it is an erotically charged exploration of adult relationships and class division.

How sex, language, and class are explored in this novel has shocked readers since its publication. When Penguin published a full unexpurgated edition in 1960, this novel was the focus of an obscenity trial in Britain. When a verdict of "not guilty" was returned, on 2 November 1960, it led to greater freedoms in publishing.

You can purchase Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence here.

3. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

"Look down at my filthy trousers, haven't been changed in months . . . The days glide by strung on a syringe with a long thread of blood . . . I am forgetting sex and all sharp pleasures of the body - a grey, junk-bound ghost. The Spanish boys call me El Hombre Invisible - The Invisible Man . . . "

J. G. Ballard called this a "rollercoaster ride through hell", and as we follow the protagonist, William Lee, in this loosely connected series of vignettes, violent portraits of a junkie existence, it certainly feels that way. With raw and vivid use of imagery to convey the world in which this character lives, we are drawn into the surreal life of the addict.

There is much going on here in this novel from Burroughs. It takes in themes and images of violence, sex, and drug use; more than enough get a work banned! But, Burroughs was no shock writer - his life was a controversial one, containing within it much of its own drug use and violence.

You can purchase Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs here.

4. Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Unlike the other entries on this list, this is not a work of fiction but a history, recounting the lives of three generations of women. The author, Jung Chang, writes the biographies of her grandmother and her mother, and the book concludes with her own autobiography. In the telling, she takes in what it has meant to be a woman in China throughout the last century, the country's political landscape, and how violence and torture have been used there.

This is history as it has touched upon the author's family; epic and sweeping.

It is banned in mainland China. Obviously.

You can purchase Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang here.

5. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

We're all mad here.

When you fall in to Wonderland, you meet some unforgettable characters: the White Rabbit; the Mad Hatter; the Duchess; Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee; and the grinning, mad Cheshire Cat, amongst others.

So, why and where was this book banned? Well, in China's Hunan province, in 1931, the book was banned because the censor general was offended by how the animals were depicted. Maddened by how the animals had been allowed the use of human language, how they had generally been raised to the level of human beings, the book was banned.

You can purchase Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, with illustrations by John Tenniel here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, can I ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading all those controversial books!

If you can, please do support this blog, with all my writerly ambitions, it really is a great boost. And I thank every reader and supporter, because you keep me going!

How to weather the storm - a book lovers' guide!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Storm Eunice is hitting the UK today (Fri 18 February), with gusts of 90mph being predicted in places, and many are being told to stay at home, to make sure all their doors and windows are firmly shut up, and only to travel if they really need to do so. 

So, with that in mind, make sure you're safe and secure, and think about how you might weather the storm; literally and figuratively. In today's post, let's take a little look at how the book lover can be kind to themselves when there's a storm battering the windows . . .

1. Comfy clothing

There's not much point in settling down with a good book if you're uncomfortable - discomfort is a distraction that will keep pulling you out of the story. So, take out your most comfy clothing. Who cares if it's full of holes? You're stuck at home. You do you, baby!

With the risk of power being lost to some during intense storms, having comfortable and warm clothing, at least at arms length, might be a necessity for those who lose any heating.

Above all, stay safe.

2. Comfort reading?

To weather a storm is to see yourself through a bad time without taking too much harm or damage. So, be good yourself. Maybe that book full of symbolism, complex themes, and a dark subject matter can wait. Maybe today's a good day to return to an old favourite. Or something light and breezy.

Personally, I like a bit of Agatha Christie. But maybe your comfort reads look completely different. Maybe you're comfort reads are those long and complex novels!

You weirdo . . .

3. Consider the scene . . .

Some of us are lucky enough to have our own little space, a little library or study, where we can take ourselves to with our current read.

Oh, to have a room of one's own! Somewhere that is your own little reading space, a cosy little corner of the world that's your very own. With your favourite pictures on the walls, and the shelves are arranged just as you like. Something that you've created for yourself.

You lucky sod!

Go somewhere that, when you look up from the page, having just finished a pleasing passage, chapter, or entire book, a wistful smile on your lips, but satisfied, you aren't jarred by harsh reality. Go somewhere where you can land softly.

4. Candles and pleasing aromas

Make your world as much of a warm embrace as you can, and the storm can rage outside all it wants.

If you've got some scented candles, dig them out. Can I recommend orange, spice, and chestnut scents? I can't help but associate those particular aromas with wintery but cosy evenings, those festive days at the end of a year. And that's exactly the aura I want when clouds are rolling overhead.

If you find yourself in the dark, and you reach for the candles for their more practical purpose, do be careful.

5. Blankets, blankets and, just in case, more blankets!

Well, this one is just self-explanatory really. Wrap yourself in blankets, and forget the world for a while; you're a human cocoon now!

6. Coffee and cakes? Bottle of water? Glass of wine?

Go on, indulge. If nothing else, it's important to stay hydrated when you're between the covers of a book. Who knows when you'll reenter the real world!?

To see yourself through a storm, you've got to be good to yourself. Maybe that means a bottle of water with a squeeze of lemon. Maybe it means a coffee you've brewed carefully and patiently. Or, maybe that means a little something stronger.

Look after yourself.

7. The 3B's

Book. Bath. Bed.

At the end of the day, take your book, run yourself a hot bath - unless you're lucky enough to have someone that will run it for you - and immerse yourself into the story as you immerse yourself into the water.

When you emerge, and take yourself to bed, hopefully, any storms in your sky will be passing, and things will look better in the morning.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me cosy as I turn the pages.

Although Monsta Reader is affiliated with booksellers, I resist ad space as much as possible, wanting the passion and joy books to be the focus for this space - I would prefer to generate conversation, rather than sales!

So, I ask readers, if they can, to consider supporting the blog with a small donation through ko-fi.com - it really does make a difference.

Thank you again for reading and, before everything else, stay safe.

Go from bupkis to bibliophile with these resources!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase from these retailers through links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does not affect the price of the item, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In today's post, we are going to take a look at five online resources for book lovers. If any of these look interesting to you, you might want to bookmark this post, so that you can come back to it easily!

Okay, without further ado . . .

1. What Should I Read Next? (whatshouldireadnext.com)

When you find yourself scratching your head, not quite sure which book to read next, this site is for you!

Simply click on the link above, enter the title of a book you loved, into the space provided, and using data from other readers, the site will provide a list of recommendations. You can also sign up and receive recommendations, based on your preferences, delivered to your inbox every week.

Not only that, you can search for quotations from favourite authors too!

2. Library Thing (librarything.com)

A favourite for booklovers, you can create a profile here and catalog your personal library, discover new and interesting books, discover other bibliophiles with similar tastes, discuss books, and much more.

If you're a book lover who likes to exchange thoughts and feelings about your reads, this might just be the place for you!

3. Goodreads (goodreads.com)

Goodreads is another cataloging website, a subsidiary of Amazon, it allows the user to search its database of books, annotations, quotations, and reviews. 

For those that want to access this platform on the go, you can also download the Goodreads app onto your phone.

4. Etsy (etsy.com)

If you're looking for a uniquely literary gift, or just a little treat for yourself, you can find plenty on Etsy.

Personally, I would recommend Team Asthers, from whom I have bought in the past; they have a great selection of literary themed items for sale. Check it out!

5. Audible (audible.com)

For those that prefer listening to their books, or for anyone that likes listening to a book on their commute, or maybe just something to stick on when you're in the bath . . .

You can sign up for a three-month free trial now, so, if you love being read to, with the great selection on offer here, why not click on the link above and get started?

Thank you for reading this post today. Before you go, I would just like to ask that you consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me collating resources for fellow book lovers!

Though this blog is affiliated with booksellers, the focus here is very much on the passion for books and bookish things. And so, I have resisted ad space here as much as possible.

Instead, I ask that readers who are able to do so consider a coffee from ko-fi.com. And, I thank every single reader and supporter! Thank you!

A blustering book list - my "TBR" pile . . .

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sale. However, this does affect the retail price, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

In today's post, we're going to take a little run through upcoming books on my "to be read" pile. It's just an easy little jaunt through some of books. So, get cosy, grab a coffee, chill, and let's begin . . .

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge

A girl emerges from the woods, closer to death than life, with a terrible and tear-inducing story to tell. 

Only days later, a similar scenario - a pattern is emerging. 

Pairs of victims are being abducted, and forced to either kill or be killed.

Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation to find the monster in the shadows, and put an end to the deaths . . .

You can purchase a copy of Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge here.

A Room With A View by E. M. Forster

From eerie matters of life and death, to a classic novel that explores love, sex, and social expectation.

Lucy visits Italy with her prim and proper cousin Charlotte, and she is on the verge of an experience that will throw her neatly ordered life off balance.

Forster explores the theme of how matters of the heart can conflict with societal expectation masterfully, and I cannot wait to get between the covers of this book!

You can purchase a copy of A Room With A View by E. M. Forster here.

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

Instantly, we are back to matters of the heart, this time exploring love and loss.

A young woman packs her ex-boyfriend's belongings, about to see him for the last time, and wonders where it all went wrong, or whether it was ever right to begin with. 

This is a bittersweet take on the romance novel, told from the end of a relationship, when love is over. In this, Hazel Hayes' debut novel, the author sifts through the relationship, the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the moments of majesty and the moments of pain, considering love and its loss with a tender but honest eye.

You can purchase Out of Love by Hazel Hayes here.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Opening with the death of a ninety-year-old woman, we are brought into an investigation run by DS Harbinder Kaur. And, it turns out Peggy, the dead woman, had been sure someone was following her . . .

Peggy Smith had been a 'murder consultant' who helped authors plot deaths in their novels, and she knew a great deal about murder . . .

After her death, Peggy's carer comes to clear out the decedent's flat, only to find herself held at gunpoint by a masked figure . . .

DS Kaur investigates.

You can purchase a copy of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths here.

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai

Winner of the BookBrowse Best Debut Award 2020

Two generations of women and the shell shock world of war . . .

Hà Nội, 1972. For Hương's grandmother, the experience of war is terribly familiar. And, as Hương comes of age, she must learn the lessons her grandmother has already learned, in a nation rocked by conflict.

This novel is the multi-generational tale of the Trẩn family that is epic in its telling.

You can purchase a copy of The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quể Mai here.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie 

One of the greatest crime and murder mystery writers of all time, I fell for Christie's books when I was a teenager, and I can still plunge happily into her world today.

In this mystery, we join one of crime fiction's perfect creations, Hercule Poirot, as he once again must exercise his little grey cells, navigating red herrings, and deaths that are not what they seem.

You can purchase a copy of Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie here.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Do you love police procedurals? 

Do you love magic? 

Do you dream of novels that bring together these two loves?

Let me introduce you to PC Peter Grant and the Rivers of London novels by Ben Aaronovitch.

Come, see London as you've never seen it before.

You can purchase a copy of Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch here.

The Bridge by Iain Banks

A man lies in a coma after a near-fatal accident. Who is he? Is he closer to death than life? 

Immerse yourself into the surreal and fantastical world of the bridge.

You can purchase a copy of The Bridge by Iain Banks here.

The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers' writing is unique. Dame Edith Sewell called her a "transcendental writer".

With poetry in her prose, McCullers here explored loneliness and the need for human connection, and understanding.

Along with her novella, The Ballad of the Sad Café, is a collection of her short stories.

You can purchase a copy of The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers here.

Thank you for reading. Just before you go, I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me awake and working my way through that pile!

Thank you to every reader and supporter - as long as you read, I will write!

Whenever I want to shake things up, I reach for a THRILLER!

 

Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the seller. But this does not affect the price of the item, and it does not influence the content of the blog.

In this post, I am pulling four great thrillers from my bookshelves for a little closer inspection. And, we start with . . .

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

An industrialist, a journalist, and the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Somebody wants the past to remain buried at any cost.

This novel introduced the world to Lisbeth Salander, the mysterious and dangerous security specialist, who finds herself involved in an investigation that might just dig up that buried past. 

You can purchase The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson here.

2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Ten strangers. 

Ten becomes nine.

Nine becomes eight.

Eight becomes seven . . .

You can purchase And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie here.

3. Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Memories define us.

But what if every time you went to sleep you forgot your name, your identity, your past, and the people in your life?

That is exactly what Christine has to face every day when she wakes up.

You can purchase Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson here.

4. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

Highsmith hit the ground running with this, her first novel.

So! What if two strangers enter a pact to commit a murder for each other? That is the premise in this perfectly crafted thriller! So, what could go wrong?

You can purchase Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith here.

Thank you for reading. Before you go, I would like to ask you to consider supporting this blog with a coffee from ko-fi.com - enough caffeine and I don't need a thriller to give me the shivers and shakes!

I write here because I am passionate about books, and I avoid ad space as much as possible. So, to keep the blog going, I must ask that readers consider a donation, if they are able to do so.

Thank you, to every reader and supporter - you keep me going!

Discovering sex in literature!

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from the seller. However, this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Sex scenes in literature and erotic fiction can be cringe worthy. In fact, the Literary Review's Bad Sex in Fiction Award has selected a work each year since 1993 to "honour" for, well, bad sex in fiction.

But, sex can also be used as a device to challenge ideas, and open up discussions about social mores and sensibilities.

In this post, we are going to take a little look at five books that feature sex, and sexuality, because we all have a relationship with sex, and it is as worthy a subject or theme to explore in literature as any other!

1. Crash by J. G. Ballard

Originally published in 1973, this is a classic of underground literature.

'In a sense, pornography is the most political form of fiction, dealing with how we use and exploit each other, in the most urgent and ruthless way.

'Needless to say, the ultimate goal of Crash is cautionary, a warning against that brutal, erotic and overlit realm that beckons more and more persuasively to us from the margins of the technological landscape.'

- J. G. Ballard, from a 1995 introduction to the novel

You can purchase Crash by J. G. Ballard here.

2. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

Constance Chatterley feels trapped in a sexless marriage to Sir Clifford. She is attracted to Mellors, her husband's gamekeeper, and she embarks upon a passionate affair with him that sparks new life in her stifled world. The novel itself sparked tremendous controversy on publication, and is still an erotically charged and powerful novel today.

You can purchase Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence here.

3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Humbert Humbert - a doomed monster, scholar, and the unreliable narrator of this tale - has fallen hopelessly in love - or a delusional lust - with Dolores Haze, or Lolita as he calls her, his landlady's twelve-year-old daughter. This novel is all about obsession, delusion, lust, and objectification.

You can purchase Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov here.

4. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Unlike previous entries, this is not a novel, but the author's recounting of her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. However, there are scenes in the book where Strayed writes candidly about her sexuality.

In the wake of personal loss, the author uses sex as a means to self-destruct, and distance herself from her marriage. But we find that sex can also be healing, and a means of connection to something profoundly beautiful.

We find here that sex can be an empty act, but it can also be empowering.

You can purchase Wild by Cheryl Strayed here.

5. The Story of My Life by Giacomo Casanova

Casanova, whose very name is synonymous with sexual conquest, was also a swashbuckler, a poet, a storyteller, and many other things in his adventurous life. This collection of his memoirs (unfinished at the time of his death in 1798) highlights his youth in Venice, his dabbling in the occult, encounters with great literary figures, and, of course, many amorous encounters. 

His was an adventurous life.

You can purchase The Story of My Life by Giacomo Casanova here.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this piece, I ask that you please consider supporting this blog with a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me collating steamy reads, so you don't have to! Thank you to all readers and supporters!

5 ways to write a protest novel

 Disclaimer: Monsta Reader is affiliated with bookshop.org, and Waterstones. If you should make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a small commission from one of these sellers. However, this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

1. Native Son by Richard Wright

This novel is the reason I decided to make protest novels the subject of this blog piece. 

This novel was written as a protest, and was first published in 1940. It made its author, Richard Wright, the first Black best-selling author in America.

In Native Son, we follow the protagonist, Bigger Thomas, a young Black man who is trapped in poverty and the slums of Chicago. This is a novel that shocked readers at the time, and still has the power to do so today.

You can purchase Native Son by Richard Wright here.

2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A classic. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award.

Set in the deep American South between the wars, this epistolary tale brings us into the world of Celie, a young Black girl born into poverty and segregation. She meets Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. 

You can purchase The Color Purple by Alice Walker here.

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Another classic, and one that still has the power to provoke thought and shock the reader.

World Controllers have created the ideal society. But Bernard Marx feels alone, harbouring a vague desire to break free. 

It is hard to read this book and not draw parallels between what lies within and our own world . . .

You can purchase Brave New World by Aldous Huxley here.

4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

If you've read this novel, you know its power.

This book was published sixty-eight years ago, in 1954.

A group of schoolboys are deserted, stranded, on an island after a plane crash, and they await rescue. This tale is a warning of what comes when order fades, of how, when rules of society are abandoned, something cruel and savage can take their place.

You can purchase Lord of the Flies by William Golding here.

5. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Callum is a nought. 

Sephy is a Cross.

In their world, noughts and Crosses do not mix. But Callum and Sephy are determined to be together.

This is a novel that will absorb you.

You can purchase Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman here.

Thank you for reading. I am passionate about books and hope that my pieces reflect that. That passion is why I share this content with you. If you can, please consider supporting me with a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading, reviewing, and writing! Thank you to every supporter and reader!

5 ways I unwind with a good book . . .

 

Disclaimer: if you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sellers, but this does not affect the cost to the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

I don't know about you, but for me there's a few things that make settling in with a good book that little bit better . . .

1. Candles (scented is better)

I don't know why, there's just something cosy about candles. 

For my money, I do like the idea of reading by the light of a lamp, a few candles burning. Just so long as there is sufficient light to read by!

Be sure to air out the room afterwards though - the soot has to go somewhere!

2. Turn off the phone

They aren't just phones any more, and it isn't just friends and family that want to get hold of us on them either. There's a few bug-eyed lizard people that have figured out ways of exploiting the neurochemical drama that is our brains, pinging us with notifications and offers and . . . "Ooh, if I just put my info in here, I'll get a voucher for . . . " And they've got you!

Just turn it off when you really want to immerse yourself in that book!

3. Coffee, cakes, or a glass of wine

Something to nibble and/or sip on while you're reading is grand, as long as you don't get it all over the pages obviously. 

Coffee or tea go with books like they were made for each other. And, if you're feeling especially in need of comfort, you can't go wrong with hot chocolate. Of course, in the evening, you might want something a little stronger - when the words on the page start to blur and run into each other, you've probably had enough . . .

Cakes and other nibbles are great too. It's a comfort thing, book lovers!

4. Blankets, socks, and jumpers

At the time of writing, it's a cold December night and Christmas is on the horizon. Rain, wind, and cold are promised and I don't need any of that when I am trying to read!

Give me all of the blankets, socks, and jumpers. Give me warmth and cosiness, and I will be a happy little bookworm!

5. Music

At the moment, I have Beethoven playing. Before that I had Led Zeppelin (getting the muthaflippin' Led out!), and when I read I love to have music in the background. Nothing too intrusive and distracting. Also, I don't want to listen to something I haven't heard before when I am trying to read. No, it has to be something familiar.

Music and books because, la di da, I am so cultured and fancy! What what! Pip pip! Toodle-oo!

Well, that's my five ways of unwinding with a good book. Hope you enjoyed this little bit of fun. You can support my writing and blogging, buying me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine goes so well with my reading, as long as I don't get rings on any of the pages!

Thank you for reading, and thank you to all supporters!

Want to find some bookish gifts for book lovers? Here's some ideas . . .

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I might earn a small commission from the sellers, but that does not affect the price to the consumer and it does not influence the content of this blog.

It's official. Christmas is on the way and, with only one more payday between us and the big day, maybe you are still on the lookout for a few ideal gifts and stocking fillers for the booklovers in your life. Or maybe you deserve a little something for yourself. Whoever you have in mind, I hope that this little list of eight ideas sparks something for some of you . . .

1. Team Asthers - https://teamasthers.co.uk/

Team Asthers are dedicated to bookish gifts for booklovers. It's a one stop shop for bibliophile gifts! There are journals, mugs, tote bags, bookmarks . . . The list goes on! And the booklovers will appreciate the bookish references that adorn many of their perfect gifts.

I challenge you to NOT find a satisfying stocking filler here!

2. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens

The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's journey towards salvation and the Christmas spirits that guide him along the way has become so much a part of our cultural landscape that it's hard to imagine Christmas without this ghost story. This tale reminds us that Christmas is not about wealth and gifts, but the people we share our lives with.

If you've the chance, on what can be a hectic day, I can't think of many better ways to grab a bit of peace on the twenty-fifth of December than to take oneself off with some hot mulled wine, settle in somewhere comfortable, and open up this book.

You can purchase A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens here.

3. F*ck off, I'm Reading mug

Do you ever tire of people interrupting your reading time? Well, when you settle down with a good book, be sure to make this the mug in which you have your tea or coffee, make sure it's well in view of any potential interrupters, and see who still dares approach!

You can purchase the mug here - https://www.etsy.com

4. Village Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee

The author of Cider With Rosie provides readers with a portrait of England through the changing seasons and years.

The book begins with winter, starting with the English village Christmas, and moves through the seasons as Lee writes powerfully and lyrically. Another read that ought to be enjoyed with a glass of something warming.

You can purchase Village Christmas by Laurie Lee here.

5. 221b Baker Street: The Sherlock Holmes Master Detective Game

Ever fancied yourself a bit of a sleuth? Maybe you could even give Victorian London's most famous detective a run for his money?

Well, this game gives you the perfect opportunity to prove it!

Christmas is a great time for playing games with your friends and family, and this is a great gift for the crime novel lover!

You can purchase the game from www.waterstones.com

6. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Author), and Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

In recent years, an adaptation of this book for BBC television has become something of a staple of Christmas time viewing. But why not take the younger readers back to the book from which the animation was sourced?

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.

You can purchase The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler here.

7. Classic Paperbacks 1000 Piece Puzzle

Is there a book lover in your life that also loves the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle? If so, this is like the beautiful coming together of two of their favourite things to create the perfect gift!

This puzzle is £14.99 from www.waterstones.com

8. Your local and independent bookshops

Don't forget your local and independent bookshops this Christmas. And, if you are short of time and need to make your purchases online, check out https://uk.bookshop.org/ - they support local and independent bookshops!

Thank you for reading. I hope you got some good ideas! You can support me by buying me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me searching the internet for bookish gift ideas and bringing them here to you! Thank you!

Feeling uninspired by Halloween? Try these three horror filled books . . .

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, MonstaReader might earn a small commission from the sellers, but this has no affect on the cost to the consumer and it does not influence the content of this blog.

If you're left feeling cold by the idea of Halloween, try one of these three horror filled novels. And, if you're still left feeling cold, check your pulse, you may just be a zombie!

1. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Twenty-six year old Patrick Bateman works on Wall Street; he is handsome, charming, and intelligent. And he lives a life that juxtaposes the American dream with a dark and brutal nightmare.

You can purchase American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis here.

2. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

In this science fiction tale, genetic engineers have created a dinosaur amusement park. Dinosaurs are now walking the Earth with human beings and a dream has been made real. But, there is a dark side to the dream and, when the park's defense systems fail, horror and suspense take over!

You can purchase Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton here.

3. Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Something strange is happening in Stockholm. The dead are waking up . . . 

David's wife dies in a car accident. But, when he goes to identify her body, she starts to move . . .

Across Stockholm, families find themselves able to see their loved-ones one last time . . .

This is a gothic horror story about love and death, a horror story that will shock you and move you.

You can purchase Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist here.

I do hope that these three suggestions have sparked some spooky ideas for you this Halloween!

You can support my writing by buying me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me sufficiently prepared for any spooky surprises, as well as it keeps me tapping away at my keyboard!

Thank you to every supporter and every reader . . .

And, have a happy Halloween!