Reads and Ramblings with Beth

  Hello everyone,  I know it's Monday, not Sunday evening which is when I usually post but I was still reading my last book of January and needed to rest early for a really busy day today! But I've gathered my thoughts now and am ready to share them with you all! So, I managed to read 6 books in January which isn't the best for me but the new uni semester has started and I spend a lot of my time reading articles etc rather than books due to that. However, I managed to read 3 physical books and 3 ebooks, which I was impressed with as I've had my kindle for absolutely years and yet could probably count the times I've used it on one hand.  The first book I read in Jan was The Foundling by Stacey Halls . I really loved this and it reminded me so much at the beginning of reading Hetty Feather when I was much younger. The plot was kind of predictable but it's historical fictions so you somewhat expect it. I definitely like Halls writing style, I think it's really

  good evening! Back with a bookish post for the first time in a little while, as I've finally managed to get back on track with reading. I adore Matt Haig's writing and this book was no different! I received it for Christmas after seeing people all over bookstagram reading and reviewing it and saying such great things. I was really intrigued by the plot and drawn to its gorgeous cover - it just had to go on my Christmas list! (Haig's books always have gorgeous covers which I just love). Where to start with this book?! I loved it!  I thought that Nora was a really likeable character and a really well built character too - she had a detailed personality and lots of hopes, dreams and backstory. I really felt for her during the whole book. Haig wrote her emotions so vividly that there were times when I had to take small breaks from the book because he created such overwhelming sections. The Book of Regrets was an incredibly clever and powerful element of the story and I really

  good evening,  I am going to try and stick to Sunday as my regular posting day now as much as I possibly can - as a student it just makes the most sense as it's my day to relax. One of my 2021 goals is to put more effort into my blog and to post regularly in the hope of growing my little corner of the internet.  Since coming back to uni this year I've decided to put more thought and time into cooking - last term I ate a lot of takeaways and not only was that financially irresponsible, it didn't feel good! Also, last semester, as a friendship group we would take turns cooking, cook for each other etc and now that I'm here living very independantly it is down to me to cook every night 😂 I can't (and don't) make anything fancy, it's fairly basic but it's actually quite enjoyable and I do feel better for it.  So, this week I decided to keep a little food diary so I could show you all what I've eaten this week and how most of it is really simple and pr

  good evening,   I hope everyone is well, and that you are all looking after yourselves. I hope you were able to do something restful with your Sunday today - read a book, had a bath, took a walk, or any activity you like to do for self-care during this hard time ♡  I would also like to take a moment to say that my comment section and instagram messages are always open for support and a chat when things get tough (I read all my message requests so as long as it's a friendly, appropriate message I will always answer you!)  On with this evenings cosy little post! I made a very bold decision that I would spend this third lockdown at university, almost completely by myself. All my wonderful friends and my boyfriend have decided to wait until the lockdown is lifted to return, and no one knows if that will even happen this semester! Social media and texts and calls have become my lifeline - I've messaged more people today than I usually would, and our family group chat has been very

 Hello everyone!! I hope everyone is well and had a lovely restful Christmas if you celebrated it. 🎅 I never got round to posting my November wrap up before it was too late so I have combined it with December to wrap up the final months of 2020. It's been a tough year, and for those of us in the UK it is going to be a tough start to 2021 but we are resilient and I personally feel hope due to the incredible and selfless efforts of our healthcare workers and scientists! Wherever you are in the world, it will be okay; if we take each day by day, and keep ourselves safe, by following regulations and having our vaccine when we're offered it, we will be back with our loved ones before we know it!  - November -  November was a weird month for me. It started well and then ended with isolation and an unexpected return home from university. It was also a strange reading month, no pleasure reads and all uni work; overall a draining month that I don't recall very much of. However, I d

  hi everyone!  A few months ago I posted my Uni Reading Module 1 mini reviews  after it was requested on my Instagram poll. I promised to be back with Module 2 and I've only just now gotten round to it - sorry about that!  If you don't already know or haven't read many of my other posts - I am a BA English Literature student and I have a really varied reading list, with some personal favourites of mine and some brand new reads too! Module 2 - The Gothic: Transgressive to Shock >The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole (1764) This is hailed as the first gothic novel and it has such an interesting back story which I definitely encourage you to look into.  This is a very typical novel of incest, secret passages, tyranny and death. Spooky paintings and a curse, a damsel chased around a castle. Reading it nowadays it's quite amusing  - I liked it! 3  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ >Dracula - Bram Stoker (1897) This is a really exciting gothic read. It's a little slow to start I must admit