ALL MY BOOKS | NOVEMBER 2019

I feel the title is fairly self-explanatory, I have photographed all the books I have in my bedroom and I wanted to share them. I probably have more hidden away in places, and my family has a small library downstairs but these are the books I keep. I also wanted to say that my carpet looks disgusting in these photos but I do all my crafting here so the marks are ink and paint so please don't think I am some gross person haha!!
DISCLAIMER: I have used descriptions from the website Goodreads, and I have marked these with a * to show it is NOT my work, unless i have stated otherwise all the descriptions come from here as it saves me time and allows you to see the contents better than I could put it anyway.
Follow my goodreads here if you like.

The first book is by Bartlett who is a great historian to use if you're a history graduate like me, and this particular book is on King Cnut, the 'first viking king'. * "The Viking Conquest of England in 1016 – a far tougher and more brutal campaign than the Norman Conquest exactly half a century later – saw two great warriors, the Danish prince Cnut and his equally ruthless English opponent King Edmund Ironside, fight an epic campaign. Cnut sailed in two hundred longboats, landing first in September 1015 on the Wessex coast with 10,000 soldiers. The two forces fought each other to the point of exhaustion for the next fourteen months. It was a war of terrifying violence that scarred much of England, from the Humber to Cornwall. It saw an epic siege of the great walls of London and bruising set-piece battles at Penselwood, Otford, and the conclusive Danish victory at Assandun on 18 October 1016. Edmund’s death soon afterwards finally resolved a brutal, bloody conflict and ended with Cnut becoming the undisputed king of England. This book tells the extraordinary story of Cnut the Great’s life. Cnut was far removed from the archetypal pagan Viking, being a staunch protector of the Christian Church and a man who would also become Emperor of the North as king of Denmark and Norway. His wife, Emma of Normandy, was a remarkable woman who would outlive the two kings of England that she married. Their son Harthacnut would be the second and last Danish king of England, but the greatness of his dynasty did not long survive his death. This saga also features the incompetent Æthelred the Unready, the ferocious Sweyn Forkbeard and the treacherous Eadric Streona, recreating one of the great stories of Dark Age England. " *

The Norman Conquest by Teresa Cole is about the Norman invasion of England and the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066. This is a period of history I love and something I was happy to read about in my own time. *"In that fateful year of 1066 three kings ruled England in succession. One was a saint, one a soldier and one a Frenchman. Tradition tells us the conquest of England by the powerful Normans was inescapable, and suggests England benefitted almost at once by closer links with Europe. New discoveries however, have thrown doubt on these long accepted truths. The Battle of Hastings itself has been reassessed, is very site disputed, as too are the whereabouts of the mortal remains of the defeated King Harold. As for the kings themselves; was Edward as saintly and William as dominant as they have been portrayed, and was Harold more than just the hinge on which history turned? Nine and a half centuries later it is appropriate to look again at the course and outcomes of the Norman Conquest of England, the genocide committed in northern England, the wholesale transfer of lands to Norman lords, and the Domesday Book designed to enable every last drop of taxation to be extracted from a subdued kingdom. Includes 40 color illustrations."*

Blue Planet II by James Honeyborne and Mark Brownlow is a really lovely book for a small coffee table book. I have always adored nature books and I love looking at all the images as well as learning from the actual text.

*"Our understanding of ocean life has changed dramatically in the last decade, with new species, new behaviours, and new habitats being discovered at a rapid rate. Blue Planet II, which accompanies an epic 7-part series on BBC1, is a ground-breaking new look at the richness and variety of underwater life across our planet.

From ambush hunters such as the carnivorous bobbit worm to cuttlefish mesmerising their prey with a pulsating light display, Blue Planet II reveals the never-before-seen secrets of the ocean. With over 200 breath-taking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, each chapter of Blue Planet II brings to life a different habitat of the oceanic world. Voyages of migration show how each of the oceans on our planet are connected; coral reefs and arctic ice communities are revealed as thriving underwater cities; while shorelines throw up continual challenges to those living there or passing through. A final chapter explores the science and technology of the Ocean enterprise – not only how they were able to capture these amazing stories on film, but what the future holds for marine life based on these discoveries."*

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an incredible classic novel, and the only novel, by Oscar Wilde, (who was defo my bff in a former life js), and I have the lovely Penguin decorated clothbound hardback edition which you can find here. Dorian Gray is a VERY descriptive book, as so are many classics, so if you like reading about curtains for 3 pages this is 100% your book...

"Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The novel was a succès de scandale and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. It has lost none of its power to fascinate and disturb." - From here.

The Templars, or Knights Templar, were a religious military order in the medieval period that took oaths and protected people and acted as guards...put simply. Dan Jones is a great historian which I really like.

*"Jerusalem 1119. A small group of knights seeking a purpose in the violent aftermath of the First Crusade decides to set up a new order. These are the first Knights of Templar, a band of elite warriors prepared to give their lives to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next two hundred years, the Templars would become the most powerful religious order of the medieval world. Their legend has inspired fervent speculation ever since. But who were they really and what actually happened?

In this groundbreaking narrative history, the bestselling author of The Plantagenets for the first time in a generation tells the true story of the Templars, drawing on extensive original sources to build a gripping account of these Christian holy warriors whose heroism and depravity have so often been shrouded in myth. The Templars were protected by the pope and sworn to strict vows of celibacy. They fought the forces of Islam in hand-to-hand combat on the sun-baked hills where Jesus lived and died, finding their nemesis in Saladin, who united Syria and Egypt to drive all Christians out of the Middle East. They were experts at channeling money across borders, immune from taxation, and beyond the control of kings. They established the medieval world’s first global bank and waged private wars against anyone who threatened their interests. Then, in 1307, bogged down in a faltering war in the Middle East, the order fell foul of the king of France. On Friday, October 13, hundreds of brothers were arrested en masse, imprisoned, tortured, and disbanded amid accusations of lurid sexual misconduct and heresy. They were tried by the Vatican in secret proceedings, but were they really heretics? Dan Jones goes back to the sources to tell their story, often in their own words. At once authoritative and compulsively readable, The Templars brings their dramatic tale, so relevant to our own times, to life."*

This book on the Crusades is a really good must-have guide if you are studying any of the Crusades between 1095 and 1197 and need help. It's a really interesting book and Jonathan Phillips really helped me with this for my A-Levels, lol.

*"The idea of the crusade remains a potent one.In this compelling account, Jonathan Philips moves away from modern constructs and possible misconceptions of the crusades, to explore the origins and development of the idea in its historical context. Through a mixture of narrative and thematic chapters, the book provides both an outline of key events and issues in the history of the crusades to the Holy Land, and an insight into new areas of research. Supporting documents include letters, charters, poetry, songsa and art. Aimed at 1st and 2nd year history students, thi s new textbook will bring an intriguing subject vividly to life."*

David Attenborough is definitely the UK's greatest treasure. He is so amazing and I am so grateful for everything he has done to share his passion and knowledge of animals and the planet.

*"In 1954, a young television presenter was offered the opportunity of a lifetime - to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for London Zoo's collection, and to film the expeditions for the BBC. His name was David Attenborough, and the programme, Zoo Quest, not only heralded the start of a remarkable career in broadcasting, but changed the way we viewed the natural world forever. Written with his trademark wit and charm, Zoo Quest is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today."*

Frankenstein is a well known classic by Mary Wollstonecraft-Shelley, but I don't think people have actually read it or looked at the plot. I studied it for my first lot of A-Levels and I really did not enjoy it but I think the college ruined it for me. In hindsight it was actually a really good book. Again, like Wilde, Shelley is super descriptive about the 'sublime' (nature) so get ready for pages about hills and stuff. Oh and by the way Frankenstein is not the 'monster' - see the first link. *"Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein. Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever."*

Okay yeah this looks weird if you know me, but I decided to buy a King James Bible and have a look. I have read the Books of Romans, Mark and another one I cannot remember, but I did annotate it and everything! I also briefed through Genesis, Job and Psalms (not Kim Kardashian's son). It confirmed my beliefs in heathen paganism (lol) but there we are. Always there if I turn into Regan from The Exorcist or something? Idk but I have a Bible with silver pages which is cool. I don't feel like you can really have a blurb or summary of a Bible??? soz.

The Upanishads is actually super interesting and I really enjoyed studying Hinduism for my college A-Levels. I actually got an A* in that exam! The Upanishads I have is translated by Eknath Easwaran and I really loved reading it. I prefer this over any Abrahamic religious text but I do not follow any Hinduism myself, I just respect it a lot.

*"Among the oldest of India’s spiritual texts, the Upanishads are records of intensive question-and-answer sessions given by illumined sages to their students – in ashrams, at family gatherings, in a royal court, and in the kingdom of Death. The sages share flashes of insight, extraordinary visions, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself."*

Unfortunately I have not been able to read this yet however it looks really good and hopefully I can read it over Christmas break! Ian Mortimer's guide to Elizabethan England  is about what really happened during this period of time and how it is not preferable to live in the past like a lot of people say they'd like to, which as a history student I do NOT understand lol.

*"We think of Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558-1603) as a golden age. But what was it actually like to live in Elizabethan England? If you could travel to the past and walk the streets of London in the 1590s, where would you stay? What would you eat? What would you wear? Would you really have a sense of it being a glorious age? And if so, how would that glory sit alongside the vagrants, diseases, violence, sexism and famine of the time? In this book Ian Mortimer reveals a country in which life expectancy is in the early thirties, people still starve to death and Catholics are persecuted for their faith. Yet it produces some of the finest writing in the English language, some of the most magnificent architecture, and sees Elizabeth's subjects settle in America and circumnavigate the globe. Welcome to a country that is, in all its contradictions, the very crucible of the modern world."*

A Doll's House is a play by Henrik Ibsen and I studied it for A-Levels (you will keep seeing me say this so see my post on being a student both here and here).

I really liked this play, I thought it was very progressive for the time it was written in 1879 Norway. It shows Nora who is a housewife and is very oppressed and it plays out her life and the people around her until the ending, which I won't spoil. I do like this and hope to see it performed.

*"A Doll's House (1879), is a masterpiece of theatrical craft which, for the first time portrayed the tragic hypocrisy of Victorian middle class marriage on the stage. The play ushered in a new social era and "exploded like a bomb into contemporary life"."*

I bought this to read for myself as we all know the phrase 'Jekyll and Hyde' and this is obviously where it comes from. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Jekyll and Hyde and I think it shows the Gothic era of literature very well. I thought it was very good and very short which is a good way to maintain interest.

*"Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the original title of a novella written by the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. The work is commonly known today as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, or simply Jekyll & Hyde. It is about a London lawyer named John Gabriel Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde."*

 I have put these two together as they are part of the same series, if I am not mistaken. The first book is by Nicholas Vincent on Britain from 1066-1485. *"From the Battle of Hastings to the Battle of Bosworth Field, Nicholas Vincent tells the story of how Britain was born. When William, Duke of Normandy, killed King Harold and seized the throne of England, England’s language, culture, politics and law were transformed. Over the next four hundred years, under royal dynasties that looked principally to France for inspiration and ideas, an English identity was born, based in part upon struggle for control over the other parts of the British Isles (Scotland, Wales and Ireland), in part upon rivalry with the kings of France. From these struggles emerged English law and an English Parliament, the English language, English humour and England’s first overseas empires. In this thrilling and accessible account, Nicholas Vincent not only tells the story of the rise and fall of dynasties, but investigates the lives and obsessions of a host of lesser men and women, from archbishops to peasants, and from soldiers to scholars, upon whose enterprise the social and intellectual foundations of Englishness now rest. This the first book in the four volume Brief History of Britain which brings together some of the leading historians to tell our nation’s story from the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the present-day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story telling, it is the ideal introduction for students and general readers."*

And this one from Ronald Hutton on Britain from 1485 - 1660. "From the death of Richard III on Bosworth Field in 1485 to the execution of Charles I after the Civil Wars of 1642-48, England was transformed by two dynasties. First, the Tudors, who had won the crown on the battlefield, changed both the nature of kingship and the nation itself. England became Protestant and began to establish itself as a trading power; facing down seemingly impossible odds, it defeated its enemies on land and sea. But after a century, Elizabeth I died with no heir and the crown was passed to the Stuarts, who sought to remould the kingdom in their own image. Leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Ronald Hutton brilliantly recreates the political landscape of this early modern period and shows how the modern nation was forged in these febrile, transformative years. Combining skilful pen portraits of the leading figures of the day with descriptions of its culture, economics and vivid accounts of everyday life, Hutton provides telling insights into this critical period on Britain's national history. This the second book in the landmark four-volume Brief History of Britain which brings together leading historians to tell Britain's story, from the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the present day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story-telling, the series is the ideal introduction for students and general readers." - from here.

Both books are really good at putting big periods of history into smaller, readable chapters.

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer was literally my whole life from a young age and it holds a special place in my heart. Twilight is probably my favourite book, or at least in my top 5. If you disliked or liked the film, it isn't relevant as the books are not like the films. The books hold so much more detail and are longer. They really absorb you and make you feel part of that world which is a sign of a very talented author. Twilight is about: *"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him—and I didn't know how dominant that part might be—that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight is a love story with bite."*

New Moon: *"For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning..."*

Eclipse: *"As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?"*

And Breaking Dawn: *"To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, she has endured a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife to reach the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs. Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life - first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse - seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?"*

The Taming of the Shrew is a play by William Shakespeare, one I did for college again, but it is actually a comedy play which is funny and watching the production of this was very good. It is similar to Ibsen's work in the sense of feminism before it's time and I think it is great to see that within this book. A 'shrew' was a word that was a derogatory term for a woman back then if that gives you a clue to the title. Shakespeare is king of comedy plays with dark undertones which I like.

*"Renowned as Shakespeare's most boisterous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew is the tale of two young men, the hopeful Lucentio and the worldly Petruchio, and the two sisters they meet in Padua. Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the apparently ideal younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. But before they can marry, Bianca's formidable elder sister, Katherine, must be wed. Petruchio, interested only in the huge dowry, arranges to marry Katherine -against her will- and enters into a battle of the sexes that has endured as one of Shakespeare's most enjoyable works."*

I haven't read this yet so I will just leave you with the summary: *"In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for more than two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions."*

Eric Ives wrote this book which I got when I was a lot younger on Shaftesbury avenue. Anne Boleyn was obviously a very infamous figure in history, and her life is deserving of being read and recognised as changing history forever. *"This definitive full biography of Anne Boleyn, based on the latest scholarly research, focusses on Anne’s life and legacy and establishes Anne as a figure of considerable importance and influence in her own right."*

This book is tiny and is super funny and good to carry round for something to read. As I said, I love Oscar Wilde, and this book is full of his wit and sarcasm and everything great about him.*"'It would be unfair to expect other people to be as remarkable as oneself' Wilde's celebrated witticisms on the dangers of sincerity, duplicitous biographers, the stupidity of the English - and his own genius. One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants."*

Howard Soune's book Amy 27 is actually a really good read. It is about the 27 club and the lives led by Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

*"The death of Amy Winehouse at the age of 27 was a tragedy. She was one of the brightest music stars in years -a brilliant, original song writer with a mighty voice and great personal charm. Amy was loveable, but troubled. She was as notorious for her messy personal life, drug addiction and alcoholism, as she was celebrated for her songs, and her death in 2011, while shocking, was not unexpected. Amy was also the latest in a series of iconic music stars who died at the same young age; starting with Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones whose death in 1969 was followed by Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin in 1970, Jim Morrison in 1971, and Kurt Cobain in 1994. All were gifted. All were dissipated. All were 27. The 27 Club was first used as a collective term for these lost souls after a comment by Kurt Cobain's mother. 'He's gone and joined that stupid club,' she said after Kurt shot himself. 'I told him not to ...' In this ground-breaking book, Howard Sounes delivers a detailed and insightful study of Amy Winehouse's life, and sets that life in the context of the 27 Club. That six big music stars died at 27 -- along with 44 less well-known names -- is on one level a coincidence. But behind this coincidence Sounes reveals is a disturbing common narrative that explains how these artists met their fate, and casts new light on Amy's death in particular. "*

Black Butler, or Kuroshitsuji, by Yana Toboso is my favourite manga and anime. I want to have more books and widen my anime and manga library. If you enjoy anime and manga you most likely know this very well. 1:  *"In the Victorian ages of London The Earl of the Phantomhive house, Ciel Phantomhive, needs to get his revenge on those who had humiliated him and destroyed what he loved. Not being able to do it alone he sells his soul to a demon he names Sebastian Michaelis. Now working as his butler, Sebastian must help the Earl Phantomhive in this suspenseful, exciting, thriller manga."*

2: *"As high society's social calendar opens up and the Season draws to a close, London is gripped by fear. Someone has taken to stalking women of the night and painting the town red...in their blood. The name on everyone's lips seems to be "Jack the Ripper" - and as a result, the name on Queen Victoria's lips is Phantomhive. Summoned to London to clean up the mess created by this madman, Ciel Phantomhive arrives with Sebastian, his extraordinary butler, at his side to pour him tea, polish his silver, and...investigate a serial killer. And with the aid (and occasional interference) of a few of the Phantomhive house's numerous acquaintances, little stands in the way of the young earl getting to the bottom of this mystery. However, one question remains...can he handle the shattering truth behind it?"*

The Cat by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris is an adult Ladybird book which are comical books about various topics. *"This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them.

The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope.

Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text."*

Wilfred Owen is one of my favourite poets ever, if not my favourite. He is a war poet who died in combat and he wrote poems of his time during his service. My favourite is Dulce et Decorum est and it gives me chills every time I read it.

*"Wilfred Owen was twenty-two when he enlisted in the Artists' Rifle Corps during World War I. By the time Owen was killed at the age of 25 at the Battle of Sambre, he had written what are considered the most important British poems of WWI."*

Lori Reid's book Moon Magic is about your Lunar Moon phase and is a book based on astrology and star signs. I love star signs and think they are 100% why we are the way we are. I love the colours and aesthetic of this book. 

*"When do people prefer to make love? When do incidences of violence soar? When in the month are births more common? The answer to all these questions is: around the time of the full Moon. Moon Power investigates this phenomenon, from early beliefs to the present day, and parallels ancient wisdom with the latest scientific findings—which now prove that many of the beliefs held by our ancestors have a strong basis in fact. The Moon’s mystique has touched our souls and inspired our spirituality for millennia. And it is because of this continuing romance with the Moon that generations have interwoven a tapestry of folklore and astrology rich in Moon myth and symbolism that still underpin many modern customs. Lori Reid explores everything from lunar rhythms, tides, and eclipses, to the night goddess, moon lore, and fertility. Her combination of practical tips and expert commentary will help you bring a little Moon magic into all aspects of your everyday life—from your bedroom to the boardroom—and special phase charts let you plot the Moon’s exact course on your own key dates. "*

Darren Oldridge is actually a professor in my university and was one of my lecturers during my first year. He is very nice and very educated and I have seen bad reviews of this book but if you know the way Darren speaks you will totally hear this book in his voice. I think it is really interesting and I love the cover art as well.

*"Strange Histories presents a serious account of some of the most extraordinary occurrences of European and North American history and explains how they made sense to people living at the time. From grisly anecdotes about ghosts, to stories of witches and werewolves, the book uses case studies from the Middle Ages and the early modern period and provides fascinating insights into the world-view of a vanished age. It shows how such occurences fitted in quite naturally with the "common sense" of the time and offers explanations of these riveting and ultimately rational phenomena. What made reasonable, educated men and women behave in ways that seem utterly nonsensical to us today? This question and many more are answered in the fascinating book."*

This small pocket book on Crystal Healing by Philip Permutt  is useful in trying to analyse and learn about stones and their properties and I think if you use and enjoy crystals and stones then it is useful to have a book like this to help you. *"The Crystal Healer is a hands-on guide to harnessing the healing power of over 250 crystals to help more than 250 common ailments—for body, mind, spirit, and an altogether happier life. Crystal therapy has long been used as a gentle system of holistic healing. By drawing on the unique qualities of crystals such as quartz and amethyst, you can balance the energy fields around your body, home and office to bring well-being, and gain health benefits. Crystals can help soothe emotional problems such as anxiety, mood swings, or shyness, as well as physical symptoms such as migraines and allergies. In addition, crystals can act as natural energy boosters and aid in detoxifying our systems. With crystal remedies for more than 250 common ailments and a directory of 250 crystals, as well as detailed explanations of the most effective healing methods, this book is the ultimate guide to healing with crystals. Illustrated with color photographs, and supplemented with practical exercises and case studies, The Crystal Healer is the ultimate practical reference from a highly respected healer and teacher."*

I started watching Shane Dawson in 2009 and have not stopped since and thus have grown up with him in my life. I want to buy his other work but have not had the chance yet. I have this collection of essays by him and I love everything about Shane and how he has shared his life with people online and helped so many. 

Subscribe to Shane here!

*"From his first vlog back in 2008 to his full-length film directorial debut Not Cool, Shane Dawson has been an open book when it comes to documenting his life. But behind the music video spoofs, TMI love life details, and outrageous commentary on everything the celebrity and Internet world has the nerve to dish out is a guy who grew up in a financially challenged but loving home in Long Beach, California, and who suffered all the teasing and social limitations that arise when you’re a morbidly obese kid with a pretty face, your mom is your best friend, and you can't get a date to save your life. In I Hate Myselfie, Shane steps away from his larger-than-life Internet persona and takes us deep into the experiences of an eccentric and introverted kid, who by observing the strange world around him developed a talent that would inspire millions of fans. Intelligent, hilarious, heartbreaking, and raw, I Hate Myselfie is a collection of eighteen personal essays about how messy life can get when you’re growing up and how rewarding it can feel when the clean-up is (pretty much) done."*

The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young is a book on farming, which you all know I disagree with, but it is a book discussing a first hand experience of how incredible and intelligent cows are as a species and how farming them should be done (not at all...) as 'humanely' as possible. *"Cows can love, play games, bond and form strong, life-long friendships. They can sulk, hold grudges, and they have preferences and can be vain. All these characteristics and more have been observed, documented, interpreted and retold by Rosamund Young based on her experiences looking after the family farm's herd on Kite's Nest Farm in Worcestershire, England. Here the cows, sheep, hens and pigs all roam free. There is no forced weaning, no separation of young from siblings or mother. They seek and are given help when they request it and supplement their own diets by browsing and nibbling leaves, shoots, flowers and herbs. Rosamund Young provides a fascinating insight into a secret world - secret because many modern farming practices leave no room for displays of natural behavior yet, ironically, a happy herd produces better quality beef and milk."* (dont eat them at all but ok enough from me).

Another I need to read and can't wait to as it looks super interesting!

*"A servant and former slave is accused of murdering her employer and his wife in this astonishing historical thriller that moves from a Jamaican sugar plantation to the fetid streets of Georgian London—a remarkable literary debut with echoes of Alias Grace, The Underground Railroad, and The Paying Guests."*

I am aware a new book has been released by Ransom Riggs called A Map of Days which I would like to read but I have so far read these books; Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City and Library of Souls. They are really good fantasy books but not too childish so an adult can enjoy them. Apparently Riggs wanted to just publish the photos used inside but created a story around them instead which I like.

MPHFPC: *"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."*

HC: *"This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises. Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerising) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages."*

LOS: *"The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children. They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience."*

Pride and Prejudice is my favourite classic ever and always will be. Jane Austen was an incredible author and the whole story I have loved since I was little. If you haven't seen the film adaptations, both are good, but the one with Colin Firth is the best one from the 90s however the newer one with Keira Knightley is more accurate.

*"Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England."*

This collection of diary entries by Adam Kay are HILARIOUS and very sad at the same time. If you like dark humour but also non-fiction stories this is amazing. The stories he comes out with about his time working in a hospital as a doctor are shocking but also hysterical but then some are super depressing. The only thing I didn't like about this was the ending was left on a very sad note which killed the whole mood. He has since released another book which I can't wait to read.

*"Adam Kay was a junior doctor from 2004 until 2010, before a devastating experience on a ward caused him to reconsider his future. He kept a diary throughout his training, and This Is Going to Hurt intersperses tales from the front line of the NHS with reflections on the current crisis. The result is a first-hand account of life as a junior doctor in all its joy, pain, sacrifice and maddening bureaucracy, and a love letter to those who might at any moment be holding our lives in their hands."*

Ken Follett is a well known history writer and very good author all round. His book A Column of Fire is very good. I liked it to start with and then it got quite boring but then picked up again. It is quite big for someone not used to reading much but I would recommend it because it is a very interesting and detailed plot and I love this period of history when it is written about well.

*"In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. Ned Willard wants nothing more than to marry Margery Fitzgerald. But when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the relove. 
In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. Ned Willard wants nothing more than to marry Margery Fitzgerald. But when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the religious conflict dividing the country, Ned goes to work for Princess Elizabeth. When she becomes queen, all Europe turns against England. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country’s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions, and invasion plans. Over a turbulent half-century, the love between Ned and Margery seems doomed as extremism sparks violence from Edinburgh to Geneva. Elizabeth clings to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents. The real enemies, then as now, are not the rival religions. The true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance and compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else—no matter what the cost."*

Khaled Hosseini himself was a refugee from Afghanistan and this is what he writes about. His books are incredible, emotive and so so sad. The Kite Runner is in my top 5 books after I studied it for college. It is about a boy called Amir and his life in Taliban controlled Afghanistan during the 1970s. I think everyone should be more educated on these events. A Thousand Splendid Suns is even sadder than The Kite Runner and focuses on abusive marriages within Islamic culture under the Taliban. Both could be quite upsetting so please read with caution. I read his other book And The Mountains Echoed but was not as impressed.

TKR: *"Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies. A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic."*

ATSS: *"A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them. Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment."*

Philippa Gregory is a fiction writer who writes historical based fiction and is one of the only writers I will read in this genre as I cannot stand many false history books. Gregory does sometimes disappoint me, as she did with the book The Last Tudor about Jane Grey. I know it states it is historical FICTION but a lot of people take what it says as gospel and it bugs me as a training historian... I enjoyed The White Queen.

TLT: *"The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her queen. Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block, where Jane transformed her father’s greedy power grab into tragic martyrdom. “Learn you to die,” was the advice Jane wrote to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and fall in love. But she is heir to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and then to her half sister, Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a Tudor son. When Katherine’s pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister’s scaffold. “Farewell, my sister,” writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth’s suspicious glare. After seeing her sisters defy their queens, Mary is acutely aware of her own danger but determined to command her own life. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving Queen Elizabeth?"*

TWQ: *"Brother turns on brother. The throne of England is at stake. The deadly Wars of the Roses have begun. . . ."They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the Plantagenets to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women."Elizabeth Woodville, a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition, secretly marries the newly crowned boy king. While she rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become the central figures in a famous unsolved mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the lost princes in the Tower of London. Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another bestselling classic series."*

Anne Frank's diary is very universally well known as a historical artefact and primary source. Anne's diary was published by her father Otto Frank who survived his time of the Holocaust, unlike the rest of his family. Anne's diary is mainly about her life, teenage life, puberty and her thoughts.

Helga Weiss in Helga's Diary writes very differently. She writes about her time in the concentration camps being a Czech Jew and her surroundings, other people, her experiences and her liberation. Weiss is still alive and lives in the house she was born in in the Czech Republic.

Anne's diary: *"Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short."*

Helga's Diary: *"In 1939, Helga Weiss was an eleven-year-old Jewish schoolgirl in Prague, enduring the first wave of the Nazi invasion. As Helga witnessed Nazi brutality toward her friends and neighbors and eventually her own family she began documenting her experiences in a diary. In 1941, Helga and her parents were sent to the concentration camp of Terezin, where she continued to write with astonishing insight about her daily life. Before she was sent to Auschwitz in 1944, Helga's uncle, who worked in the Terezin records department, hid her diary and drawings in a brick wall. Miraculously, he was able to reclaim it for her after the war. Of the 15,000 children brought to Terezin and deported to Auschwitz, Helga was one of only 100 survivors. Written in school exercise books and translated here for the first time, Helga's Diary is a strikingly immediate and exceptional firsthand account of the Holocaust."*

I actually really disliked this book by Stephen Chbosky. The Perks of Being a Wallflower film was very good and I really enjoyed it but I found the book very dull and boring and I read it on a lunch break in college once. Sorry, Chbosky.

*"The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up."*

This book was a good read and one I just picked up out of wanting to read something new. The concept is interesting and from different points of views. Daisy Goodwin is an author I'd like to read more of.

*"In 1875, Sisi, the Empress of Austria is the woman that every man desires and every woman envies. Beautiful, athletic and intelligent, Sisi has everything - except happiness. Bored with the stultifying etiquette of the Hapsburg Court and her dutiful but unexciting husband, Franz Joseph, Sisi comes to England to hunt. She comes looking for excitement and she finds it in the dashing form of Captain Bay Middleton, the only man in Europe who can outride her. Ten years younger than her and engaged to the rich and devoted Charlotte, Bay has everything to lose by falling for a woman who can never be his. But Bay and the Empress are as reckless as each other, and their mutual attraction is a force that cannot be denied. Full of passion and drama, THE FORTUNE HUNTER tells the true story of a nineteenth century Queen of Hearts and a cavalry captain, and the struggle between love and duty."*

I really wanted this big coffee table book and my Grandad kindly got me it and I love it! It is super interesting, a lovely quality and size and is great for people who like combat history or history in general and people who are interested in how battles change our history.

*"This illustrated guide to history's most famous battles explores military history from ancient battles to the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and beyond.

Featuring stunning illustrations and in-depth analysis, this military history book uses maps, paintings, and photographs to reveal the stories behind more than 90 of the most important battles ever to take place. From medieval battles and great naval battles to the era of high-tech air battles, key wars and campaigns are analyzed in detail--the weapons, the soldiers, the military strategy, and the fateful decisions that led to glorious victories and crushing defeats. Famous military leaders are profiled, including Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Rommel, and others, and crucial arms, armor, and equipment are explained. Whether at Hastings, Gettysburg, or Stalingrad, Battles That Changed History takes you into the thick of combat and shows how kingdoms and empires have been won and lost on the battlefield throughout history."*

I watch Harmony Nice on youtube, and I find her interesting and I like her video concepts and her style. I am not Wiccan per say, but I do incorporate a lot of Wiccan practices into my everyday life. My mum got me this as she knew I watched her on youtube and I think it is a good book to get someone who is interested in Wicca but not sure where to start.

*"Welcome to Generation "Hex"--an era where young Americans know that witchcraft isn't about devil worship and spooky curses, and instead are openly embracing meaningful Wiccan rituals that can enrich our lives in real-world ways. In Wicca, 21-year-old Harmony Nice--a YouTube and Instagram star with 700,000 followers--offers modern readers a guide to overcoming obstacles and maximizing happiness. She offers practical guidance on: using crystals, wands, tarot cards, and magical tools

setting up an altar
introductory spells for health and protection
finding your own witchy path--solitary or with a coven
With beautiful illustrations throughout, Wicca offers readers spiritual authenticity, a hint of glamour, and a perfect guide to infusing their lives with spiritual purpose, confidence, and resilience."*

This book was one of the first adult books I read and I laughed at it so much, therefore it holds a place in my heart for me. Alexandra Potter brings together both Pride and Prejudice (see above) and real life. American women comes to England and realises life is not what it seems.

*"Dreams come true in this hilarious, feel-good fairy tale about life, love, and dating literature’s most eligible bachelor! After a string of disastrous dates, Emily Albright decides she’s had it with modern-day love and would much rather curl up with Pride and Prejudice and spend her time with Mr. Darcy, the dashing, honorable, and passionate hero of Jane Austen’s classic. So when her best friend suggests a wild week of margaritas and men in Mexico with the girls, Emily abruptly flees to England on a guided tour of Jane Austen country instead. Far from inspiring romance, the company aboard the bus consists of a gaggle of little old ladies and one single man, Spike Hargreaves, a foul-tempered journalist writing an article on why the fictional Mr. Darcy has earned the title of Man Most Women Would Love to Date. The last thing Emily expects to find on her excursion is a broodingly handsome man striding across a field, his damp shirt clinging to his chest. But that’s exactly what happens when she comes face-to-face with none other than Mr. Darcy himself. Suddenly, every woman’s fantasy becomes one woman’s reality."*

Another I need to read...

*"Sixteenth-century Europe saw an explosion of female rule. From Isabella of Castile, and her granddaughter Mary Tudor, to Catherine de Medici, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth Tudor, these women wielded enormous power over their territories, shaping the course of European history for over a century. Across boundaries and generations, these royal women were mothers and daughters, mentors and protégées, allies and enemies. For the first time, Europe saw a sisterhood of queens who would not be equaled until modern times. A fascinating group biography and a thrilling political epic, Game of Queens explores the lives of some of the most beloved (and reviled) queens in history."*

One of my favourites is this coffee table book about Queen Elizabeth I. I saw it in the National Portrait Gallery and really wanted it and was surprised with it which I was so happy about. The images are so lovely and it is a great size.*"The reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which spanned more than 40 years, was a time of economic stability, with outstanding successes in the fields of maritime exploration and defense, a huge expansion in trade, the creation of new industries, a rise in social mobility and the development of an extraordinary literary culture. Elizabeth I & Her People explores the stories of those individuals whose achievements brought about these changes, as well as giving a fascinating glimpse into their way of life through accessories and artifacts. The book features portraits of the Queen and her courtiers, including explorers such as Francis Drake and Martin Frobisher, statesmen and soldiers, and portraits of the Queen's female courtiers. From the mid-sixteenth century, interest in portraiture broadened as members of a growing wealthy middle class sought to have their likenesses captured for posterity. The book includes lesser-known images of Elizabethan merchants, lawyers, goldsmiths, butchers, calligraphers, playwrights and artists."*

I never finished this but I enjoyed what I read. Anna Whitelock is a well known Tudor historian and I liked the concept of this book delving into the private, hidden life of Liz I.

*"Elizabeth I acceded to the throne in 1558, restoring the Protestant faith to England. At the heart of the new queen’s court lay Elizabeth’s bedchamber, closely guarded by the favoured women who helped her dress, looked after her jewels and shared her bed. Elizabeth’s private life was of public, political concern. Her bedfellows were witnesses to the face and body beneath the make-up and elaborate clothes, as well as to rumoured illicit dalliances with such figures as Robert Dudley. Their presence was for security as well as propriety, as the kingdom was haunted by fears of assassination plots and other Catholic subterfuge. For such was the significance of the queen’s body: it represented the very state itself. This riveting, revealing history of the politics of intimacy uncovers the feminized world of the Elizabethan court. Between the scandal and intrigue the women who attended the queen were the guardians of the truth about her health, chastity and fertility. Their stories offer extraordinary insight into the daily life of the Elizabethans, the fragility of royal favour and the price of disloyalty"*

This is sort of a coffee table book?? I have this and I have read it a few times as it is not very extensive but if you are interested in true crime it is good to have. It isn't for everyone, obviously, but yeah...serial killers...

*"Investigate the depraved, sadistic crimes of some of the world's most notorious serial killers. Focusing on grisly accounts of true-life tales of terror and featuring killers such as Fred and Rose West, 'The Doctor of Death' Harold Shipman and many, many more. This collection of bone-chilling reports is sure to leave you disgusted, disturbed and sleeping with the light on."*

I have the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda. The Prose Edda is by Snorri Sturluson who is very well known and is about Scandinavian literature and folklore and follows the Gods, which I feel very close to and is something I believe in to an extent. Sturluson also wrote the Poetic Edda which is a collection of Old Norse poetry.

The Prose Edda: *"The Prose Edda is the most renowned of all works of Scandinavian literature and our most extensive source for Norse mythology. Written in Iceland a century after the close of the Viking Age, it tells ancient stories of the Norse creation epic and recounts the battles that follow as gods, giants, dwarves and elves struggle for survival. It also preserves the oral memory of heroes, warrior kings and queens. In clear prose interspersed with powerful verse, the Edda provides unparalleled insight into the gods' tragic realisation that the future holds one final cataclysmic battle, Ragnarok, when the world will be destroyed. These tales from the pagan era have proved to be among the most influential of all myths and legends, inspiring modern works as diverse as Wagner's Ring Cycle and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings."*

The Poetic Edda: *"After the terrible conflagration of Ragnarok, the earth rises serenely again from the ocean, and life is renewed. The Poetic Edda begins with The Seeress's Prophecy which recounts the creation of the world, and looks forward to its destruction and rebirth. In this great collection of Norse-Icelandic mythological and heroic poetry, the exploits of gods and humans are related. The one-eyed Odin, red-bearded Thor, Loki the trickster, the lovely goddesses, and the giants who are

their enemies walk beside the heroic Helgi, Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer, Brynhild the shield-maiden, and the implacable Gudrun. This translation also features the quest-poem The Lay of Svipdag and The Waking of Angantyr, in which a girl faces down her dead father to retrieve his sword. Comic, tragic, instructive, grandiose, witty, and profound, the poems of the Edda have influenced artists from Wagner to Tolkien and speak to us as freely as when they were first written down seven hundred and fifty years ago"*

King John is a monarch I am very interested in and I feel gets a lot of flack for his actions but he was actually a very intelligent man when it came to administration, just not action. His brother Richard the Lionheart definitely outshone him and I think John deserves more air time.

"King John is a study not only of a king and his political misfortunes, but also of a period—a period of profound changes in society at large, and hence one of unprecedented stressed. John's personality, so distorted by chronicles such as Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris, is investigated through his acts: but he is seen also against the background of his predecessors on the throne, of the society in which he lived and of the problems that were posed for a rule by that society." - from here.

Finally, I was given this Kindle which was very kind and I have been reading Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories on it. There are a lot in the series and my favourite TV show ever is The Last Kingdom which is the adaptation of these books. It follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg who is a Saxon child brought up by Danish Vikings and is about his quest for his homeland but also for his identity as either a pagan viking or a Christian Saxon.

The list includes: 

The Last Kingdom

The Pale Horseman

Lords of the North

Sword Song

The Burning Land

Death of Kings

The Pagan Lord

The Empty Throne

Warriors of the Storm

The Flame Bearer

War of the Wolf

Sword of Kings

I have read the first two.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!! I NOW NEED TO SLEEP AS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND IT IS 1:30 AM!!!