Poet in the Spotlight: Sappho

Happy National Poetry Day, everyone! I'm not a poetry fan. I'm really not. I just tend to...not get it. But I adore Sappho, a famous poetess from Lesbos who lived around 600BCE. Most of her work is lost, but the fragments that remain are beautiful - she says so much in just a few words. So...

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Girls don't want boys; girls want more LGBTQ characters in genre fiction

I see plenty of LGBTQ books (especially in YA) being published these days, and this is a fantastic step for representation. These sorts of books are essential for young LGBTQ readers to know that they are valid and are not alone in having their experiences. They're also important as they help non-LGBTQ readers to understand the issues our community faces. It's all well and good to have these sorts...

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Top Ten Books Set in the Future

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten Books With X Setting (top ten books set near the beach, top ten book set in boarding school, top ten books set in England, etc). If you read my blog you'll know how much I love historical fiction,...

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Top Ten Books by New Zealand Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Top Ten Tuesday REWIND - go back and do a topic you missed over the years or recently or a topic you really want to revisit. I missed 19 July's Ten Books Set Outside The US, but since that's too broad I...

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Goodreads, what have you done???

I go on Goodreads daily. That's right - every day. Often it's just to check my notifications, sometimes it's to add a book or look up a book or update my reading status. I've been on Goodreads for eight years, I started using it in August 2008. That's a long time, and I have become attached...

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Thirty Bookish Facts About Me

Thank you Cait at Paper Fury for sharing these questions! 1) Currently reading?Music & Silence by Rose Tremain 2) Should’ve read, like, yesterday?Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I got it out from the library once last year and didn't read it. Oops.3) Book that impacted you?One? Just one?! 5) Current series crush? Don't have one. 6) How strong is your self-control around...

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Mini review: Love in the Land of Midas by Kapka Kassabova

Clickbait summary: Not as corny or romantic as the blurb makes it appear. Actual summary A love story that crosses generations and continents, from post-war Europe to the present day. The legends of the Greek myths are diffused with the complicated history of the Balkans in a story...

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Get To Know Me Tag

Thank you to Alise at Readers In Wonderland for the tag. Readers, here are some never before revealed facts about me! Basics Name: pen name Alexandria Nicknames: not really Birthday: 7th November Star Sign: Scorpio Occupation: student Appearance Hair colour: naturally brown, currently blackish Hair length: long Eye colour: blue Best feature: eyes Braces: never Piercings: ears. I want...

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The good, the bad, and the ugly: Bring Down the Sun by Judith Tarr

Clickbait summary: Horny priestess marries King of Macedonia, has magic. The good About a historically intriguing woman, Olympias (Alexander the Great's mother)  The setting! (Ancient Greece, 4th Century BCE) Main character has a clear goal she is determined to reach (but she reaches...

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Top Ten Random Facts About Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is Ten Facts About Me.  1. I'm in my first year of university, studying Communications 2. I'm left-handed 3. My favourite picture book is Weslandia by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes 4....

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