To make up for not reading much last month, I’ve ambitiously put together a pile of books that I’m hoping to read this month. I’ve finished 1 so far and am halfway through 2 others. I’ve read Not Quite Nigella before, but wanted to re-read it again given I’ve just started up my blog. All the books look so lovely piled up together and I swear the colour theme was completely accidental!

To see what I’m currently reading, follow me on Goodreads here.

What’s on your list of books to read this month? 

This year, I’m aiming to read 50 books! Here are the mini reviews of the books I’ve read in the last month:

6. Bossypants – to be honest, I didn’t really have a good idea of who Tina Fey was but I’d read really great reviews about her book and so I bought it on a whim. I’m so glad that I did! This book is actually a short autobiography of American comedian Tina Fey herself. It’s a witty and funny account of her life, life lessons and an interesting read on how she got to where she is today. She’s an inspirational woman and I might just have to go back and watch old reruns of 30 Rock now!

7. Long Walk to Freedom – wow, just wow. I have to admit it was a pretty slow start for me as there was so much information to digest from a place and culture that I knew next to nothing about but I’m so glad that I persevered. Nelson Mandela’s story begins from his birth in 1918 and follows his extraordinary path throughout life as he takes up the struggle against racial oppression in South Africa. His story left me with a greater understanding of the importance of standing up for what you believe in and just how fortunate I am to live in Australia in this day and age.

8. Maestra – with full disclosure, I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway (yay!). I knew this book was a thriller but beyond that, I didn’t know what to expect. Judith works as an assistant in an art auction house in London, where she desperately tries to prove herself so she can make her big break in the art world. Unfortunately, she uncovers what looks to be an art conspiracy and in trying to do the right thing, gets fired, which sets off a chain of events that will change her life. Judith makes an unlikely heroine and I really struggled to like her in the first half of the book. By the end of the book though, I was cheering her on and I’m looking forward to the sequel. Readers be warned, this book is 50 Shades of Grey meets Tom Ripley and isn’t for everyone!

9. Wizard of Oz – I remember watching the 1939 movie years ago as a child and falling in love with the story and its characters. I’ve always associated Wizard of Oz with this movie, so I was surprised to find out that it was based on a book! Penguin Books have a collection of beautiful clothbound classics and I just had to pick up this edition to read. With the exception of a few superficial differences, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie stayed fairly true to the book. As a children’s book, it was simple to read and I look forward to the day I get to share this amazing world with my future child!

10. Room – I bought this book based on the movie trailer. I still haven’t watched the movie yet but if it’s anything like the book, it’s going to be a heartbreaking story. The story is told from the perspective of 5 year old Jack, who lives with his Ma in Room. Room is his entire world as his Ma has protectively created for him. This sets the scene as his world is turned upside down when he learns, not without much resistance and disbelief, that there is in fact a real world out there and they need to escape. This book seems to have had a polarising effect on readers but I personally thought it was great writing from a unique perspective.

To read my previous book reviews, click here.

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This year, I’m aiming to read 50 books! Here are some mini book reviews of my first 5 books:

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns – I’ve recently started branching out into different genres and was curious to read this as it was written by Khaled Hosseini, who wrote the popular The Kite Runner. It was a heartbreaking and moving story of 2 women born from different generations but whose lives are brought together by war and tragic circumstances. Although it’s a fictional story it weaves in historical events, which gave me a better understanding of the conflict in Afghanistan, and the plight of Afghan women today. A sad but great read.

2. All the Light we Cannot See – set in World War II, this book follows the parallel stories of a German boy and a blind French girl whose paths eventually cross in occupied France. It’s a beautifully written, poignant story and won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This is a must read and I would love to see a movie adaptation for this book.

3. Fifty Shades of Grey – after a bit of heavy reading, I wanted to read something lighter so I finally succumbed to the Fifty Shades of Grey hype. I’m a big fan of Mills and Boon so I’m no stranger to romantic, or should I say passion filled books but oh my! This was a lot more explicit than I thought it would be but still a fun read and I managed to smash it out in a day.

4. Fifty Shades Darker – this picks up exactly where Fifty Shades of Grey left off and is more of the same stuff but there’s a bit more character and story development. You learn more about why Mr Grey is the way he is and why his tastes are so “singular”. Still a fun read.

5. Fifty Shades Freed – a bit more excitement in this one beyond the bubble of Mr Grey and Ana. The ending is predictable in the way that all Mills and Boon books are but still satisfying. All in all, an easy, romance trilogy with some adventurous sex thrown in for good measure!

To follow what I’m currently reading, you can visit my Goodreads profile here.

The above links are affiliate links that at no extra cost to you, will earn me a small commission should you choose to click and purchase any items. Thanks for your support!