Reading Tastes

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And recently I've been thinking alot about our reading tastes. How they change as we age, books we get the urge to go back and re-read, and how we simply forget the entire plot of others, as new, more interesting books come into the picture. 

I've been doing some digging on Goodreads this evening, looking for my 'Most Read Authors' section on my profile, only to find it missing. Turns out, it was removed from Goodreads 6 years ago. 

Anyway, I wanted to see whether I still thought the same about these books, all those years ago, to now. 

That section may be gone now, but I'm still going to discuss it on here.

This is basically going to be another rambler post so sorry to anyone that was looking for QUALITY tonight, because this won't be it. 

But I'll do it anyway. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

~Reading Tastes~

Okay, so. Growing up, I was a HUGE distopian fan. Like most preteens discoving the wide world of books. They're exciting, full of adventures, romances, fights, death. They're great gateways to the adult fantasy genre, as well as middlegrade adventures, like Harry Potter, or Narnia, Percy Jackson, etc. 

Authors like Cassandra Clare, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, Stephanie Meyer. They were my introduction to the dystopian genre. Of course the YA subgenre was smack bang in the middle of that too. 

Fast forward to today, I keep thinking about how golden a time that time was. Late 2000s, the Twilight film came out. A few years later, A City of Bones, The Hunger Games and Divergent all got film deals. I am so thankful that I was the right age for these book release/ film releases, to feel the magic when my favourite books became loved by all who knew them. 

It was at this time that #Booktube reached an all time high. Live shows, getting to talk to Booktubers in America about these releases. To this day, I remember reading the entire Lunar Chronicles series in time to finish Winter, in time for the liveshow (which I fell asleep for, in the end, because in the UK it was 2am that it took place). There was #UKYAChat, a Twitter conversation with youtuber Lucy Powrie (now author of The Paper & Hearts Society series), who created the theme, and posted questions, every Friday night. It was the time for booktubers and distopian fiction. 

And now, as a 28 year old woman, I want to go back. Not to re-read, but for the first time. To all of it. I'll reach to one of these favourites every so often, when I'm in danger of dissolving into a reading slump. Teri Terry, Lemony Snicket, and of course, I'm still reading Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant novels, sixteen years later. 

Because of that Booktube community, I feel like certain books, that were popular within the group, led me to my reading tastes today. The Book Thief, is what started my interest in historical fiction, I'm 100% sure of it. Cassandra Clare, Nicola Yoon, Adam Silvera, all authors that I discovered and loved, because of those liveshows. 

Now, that wasn't all I was reading. I had a strong love for Sci-fi, I still do. But, is it just me, or do not as many people go in for Sci-fi as much as fantasy? Like, I get that magic and all is amazing, but space, stars, unknown species from outer space, and a world without gravity is interesting too, surely? 

My love of Science Fiction hasn't changed much at all, really. I still have a long list of Science Fiction books that I'm eager to get to, the Skyward series at the top of the pile. 

Saying that, if anyone has any recommendations for sci-fi novels, let me know in the comments- I don't have as many on my list as I'd like. I think maybe the subject pool is bigger for fantasy, hence why there's a bigger interest for the average reader. 

Before I move on to fantasy, I just want to make a note about fiction/ contemporary. Looking back at my reading taste as a teen, there's a single book that springs to mind that's the most similar to the type of fiction book I like to pick up now. That book is Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. That book, the light-hearted tone, about a writer, going to University, and trying to figure herself out as an individual, without her twin sister, was the gateway to authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Marian Keyes, Jodi Picoult, Fredrik Backman. Not that I don't like cutesy fiction, but I'm very much a sucker for a tough journey. 

Now, moving on to fantasy. There was never a chance I wasn't going to like this genre, after picking up Skulduggery Pleasant, age twelve. Conjuring fire, powerful boxers with a face full of scars, kick-ass women with knives running up walls- that book completely changed my life- and with the final book due to be released in March, I don't know how I'm going to deal with it (though there's an epic re-read coming up, you mark my words). That book series sparked a love for fantasy, for magic, every kind of it, and it's never gone away. It's just changed somewhat. 

The kind of fantasy novels I crave now, are huge, 700-800 pages of dialogue, discovery, vast worlds, complicated characters, a full series I can lose myself in. I've changed from reading Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, to wanting to read Robin Hobb, R.F. Kuang, Fonda Lee, N.K. Jemison. 

Which is natural. It's normal to grow as a reader, to develop a liking to different themes, tropes, different authors. 

That's what's great about reading. There's something for everyone. 

Okay! Those are all my thoughts on reading tastes! I'm sure I'll be thinking of a lot more than what I've written, the minute I publish this, but for now, that's my lot. Please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments if you feel like chatting though! I love any imput! 

Okay! I hope you have a lovely evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx

October Wrap Up (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my October Wrap Up! 

I read a fair few books, which I'm pretty happy with, considering one of them took me a while to get into. 

Anyway, with further ado, I hope you enjoy, and as always, feel free to comment what you read, or got up to, in the spookiest month of the year! 

1. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens

My achievement of the year! I got this for my birthday/ Christmas last year, and when it got to August, I decided it was crunch time. The target was the end of the year. 

Knowing how difficult the language was going to be, I decided not to shy away from it, and picked it up almost immediately. And let me tell you, I'm so glad my friend decided on this, and not Les Mis, because I reckon if he had, I'd still be reading it now. 

The language was challenging to say the least. I had to re-read a fair bit of this to make sure I was still following what was going on. Charles Dickens is definitely a bit of a 'waffler', it took a while for me to see the point of where he was going with a story. But nevertheless, I enjoyed the story, the characters were excellent, the pacing was fantastic, there were points in the story that I didn't want to put the book down, so I could find out what was going to happen next, and I'm eager to start another Charles Dickens book soon (when I've read some of my other unread books, of course). 

I will definitely be watching the 2010 BBC TV show of Great Expectations this winter. 

2. Skyward, Vol.1: My Low- G Life (Skyward #1), by Joe Henderson

3. Skyward, Vol. 2: Here There Be Dragonflies (Skyward #2), by Joe Henderson

4. Skyward, Vol. 3: Fix the World (Skyward #3), by Joe Henderson

 

I bought these with me for the flight to Dubrovnik because, being graphic novels, I knew they would be a fast-paced read. That was almost exactly what they were. Simple premise, protagonist is Willa, a girl born just before everything (literally) went up in the air. Grown up, she's looking for an adventure, a reason to leave, to explore what else the world has to offer. Except maybe not her Dad's grandmaster plan to bring back gravity, that could potentially get her killed. 

But here she is, smack bang in the middle of it. 

A fast-paced, fun graphic novel series is what I wanted, and that's exactly what I got. Another series conquered for the year. 

5. The Porpoise, by Mark Haddon 

The Porpoise. A book I never would have ever considered, had it not been for The Mysterious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Not wanting a huge marathon of a book for my holiday in Dubrovnik, I hesitantly chose it, after being gripped by the first chapter that sets up the story. 

After Angelica is the sole survivor of a horrible plane crash, she is kept in almost perfect isolation by her father Phillipe, and can do nothing to stop his abusive behavious and troubling obsession with her. Desperate for any kind of escape, she turns to literature for comfort, to resilient strangers embarking on wild escapades, and living to tell the tale. Sometimes she forgets where she ends and the stories begin. 

After a very gripping and fast-paced first chapter, we're fast forwarded a couple of years to when Angelica is a few years old. We see her grow up, form almost unnatural habits with regards to her over-protective father. We read from the time that Angelica is a few years old, until she reaches maturity and the abuse gets worse. A visitor arrives, about some paintings, which his recently deceased father was in business with Phillipe for. After he guesses at what's going on, tries to get Angelica away, and barely escapes with his life, we reach the beginning of the story. Stony resillence from Angelica from now until the end of the book means that the rest of the story is mostly the stories she is reading, to keep from dissolving into a complete breakdown, when fighting against her father inwardly. 

I have to admit, after we switching to the novels we were picking up, I didn't have the faintest clue what was going on. It was a good 40 pages until I twigged, and it was such a struggle to get to three digits. Once I did though, once the story had moved on some, it was like there was a switch flicked. And suddenly I couldn't put the book down. I struggled through 50 pages in an afternoon, and then suddenly it was 75 pages in a couple of hours, travelling on the bus, mostly. 

The Porpoise is a beautifully-written book about how stories can give you hope and bravery in the face of danger, and keep your head above water. It reads completely differently to The Mysterious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and it was a pleasure to read it. 

6. A Heart Full of Hatred (Skulduggery Pleasant #17), by Derek Landy 

A solid four star. Not my favourite in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, but then a 4 star for Skulduggery Pleasant is going to be better than any other normal four star anyway. 

Obviously, this is book 17 in the series, so I can't say much, because spoilers. 

I'm both ready for this series to be at an end and also not, because I've been reading this series for 16 years. The last book is out in March and I'll be doing an epic SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT SERIES SENDOFF around then, I've already decided. 

Please, let this be the last one. I don't want any more characters dying. 

Okay! Those are all the books I read in October! As I mentioned up top, let me know in the comments what you all read in October, or even if you watched/ saw something new. Just write about it in the comments! 

That's all I have for you all today, so I hope you have a lovely day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxxx

I really hope that's not pee running down my leg...

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with the third installment of, I'm still not sure what I'm calling whatever this it- short story? I guess we'll see how long it goes on for. 

Collection of scenes! We'll go with that! 

Well, nobody has told me to stop yet, so I'm just going to keep going. 

I did actually put some thought into how this story is going, I promise, so hopefully you'll get a little bit more of a window into how this story will progress in this scene- or you'll still be confused! Let me know in the comments below! 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. 

~I really hope that's not pee running down my leg...~

What the fuck was that? Trying to process things here.

Okay, so I’m walking home, someone is following me, I’m freaking out, and then he’s dead. Because of fricking light beams coming out of my HANDS? How is this possible?

This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen. Not in the real world, anyway.

Yet somehow it did.

Me. Charlie Frank. Simpleton. 15 years old. Just blew fucking light beams out of my hands!

This is amazing! I’m a superhero! I’m the best person ever.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I just killed a man.

My stomach turns and I’m very nearly spewing up everything that’s in it. Before I can do that though, I feel a kind of swaying. It starts in the sky, directly above me. It’s the kind of feeling you get when you’re on a boat. Not chaotic, or dizzy-ish at all, more like a gentle swaying where you never seem to get your balance right. This swaying continues downwards, until it feels like it’s all around me, cascading down into… me.

And that’s when… it appears.

Short guy, no more than five feet, might be Italian, or Greek, a bit like Phil from Hercules. Okay, maybe a lot like Phil from Hercules, complete with a headset and tattoos on his muscled arms. He descends fast, faster, faster, faster than speed itself, then STOPS, right before it looks like he’s about to crash. By this point I’m 99% sure I’m dreaming. I really hope I’m dreaming.

Please let me be dreaming…

Anyway, after the dead stop, he starts to turn (assuming he’s, well, a he) spinning, slowly downwards, until he places his hooved feet onto the pavement.

 I don’t know what he saw in my face, but whatever it is, makes him sprint over to me and hold me in place.

“Wait, wait! Don’t bolt, or throw up, please! Just let me explain!”

Couple of things. One- I must really be out of it, because I had plenty of time to get away, if I wanted to- whoever this guy is, can’t run very fast at all, and two- never actually heard him talk, I heard him in my head. Telepathic? I must be dreaming.

Because somehow, I’m not making any noise either.

“Okay, okay! Not bolting, but please, explain everything! I’m seriously freaking out here!”

Convinced at last, he lets me go. He takes a deep breath, and with a nervous glance around himself, begins again.

“My name is Gus. I’m part of the security team keeping tabs on watchers. To make sure nothing happens to them.”

A calming feeling has taken over my entire body. I’m sure it’s something to do with him, and although I’m trying to resist, I can’t help but listen to what he’s saying.

I take a deep breath, changing from ragged to barely breathing, as the calming effect, takes effect, and relax, before I say anything else.

“Wait, what are watchers? Security team for what? And what kind of things can happen to watchers?”

A slight slimmer of a smile passes along his lips. “Something like what you just did.” He indicates behind him. “Sometimes clients can lose control, when they get anxious. I shouldn’t even be here, to be honest with you. This is extremely special circumstances. In fact, we really can’t stay long.” Gus taps a triangular-shaped icon on his arm, mutters something non-committal, and a circular thing (no idea how else to describe it) slides open. He goes to grab my arm, but quick as lightning, I’m out of range. (What the actual f? I’ve never moved that fast in my life!)

“Wait! What even is this? Who is this guy, why was he watching me? What’s all this about? I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me that!”

Sighing, he taps another button on his arm. The circular thing closes.

“I really shouldn’t be telling you this. There are rules, and threats, and dangerous times coming. I should not be telling you this.”

He’s pacing now. I wish he would just spit it out. Or stop pacing. Laughing at his walk won’t help things.

He seems to make his mind up about something. Looks me dead in the eye.

“Okay, you’re one of the many hand-picked children chosen to defend Artios, the city of the stars. Something is coming, and although we don’t know what it is, there is a legend of a handful of children, arriving to save the city, and all of its inhabitants. You’re one of them. Now, please, you must come with me!”

And much like every other teenage boy being told they’re destined to save a city they’ve never even heard of, I start to freak out- again.

“WHAT? But, but, but, that can’t be true! I’m Charlie, I’m 15, and new, and weird. Complete simpleton. I can’t have been chosen!”

Gus goes on. “We’ve been on the look out for the past one hundred years. Something is coming, and you’re involved. Now, I can tell you more where it’s safe. But you have to come with me now. Please, will you? Or will you be left vulnerable, without a watcher? Because he’s your lot.”

I glance back at my watcher… What do I do? There’s Mum, she’ll be worried about me. Or will she? Gus has powers, he’s already, somehow, calmed me down, which is a feat in itself. Surely Mum will be fine?

“Your Mum will be fine. She already thinks your staying at a friend’s.”

Trying to ignore my shaking my hands, I take a deep breath, and say:

“Okay. But you need to tell me everything when we get there.”

“Deal.”

The portal opens and we walk in.

Okay! That was Installment #3! I hope you enjoyed it, and of course, any thoughts would be appreciated, if you want to share them. 

I hope this entry gave the story a bit more of a direction, there was certainly a lot more to it than the previous entries! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxxx