Dumb Ways JR Boffo's Breakfast
Education and Games
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Before the Dumb Ways characters grew up, they were already making mischief in all sorts of places...
Peter: The Untold True Story
10.0
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Chris Mechling's new historical novel, Peter, introduces readers to the amazing true story behind...
The Wisdom of Anxiety: How worry and intrusive thoughts are gifts to help you heal
5.0
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'We have to shift from a mindset of shame, which sees anxiety as evidence of brokenness, to a...
The Dark Net
7.7
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The Dark Net is real. An anonymous and often criminal arena that exists in the secret far reaches of...
ClareR (5955 KP) rated Babel: An Arcane History in Books
Feb 14, 2023
Robin Swift is brought to England by a mysterious Englishman after he is orphaned in Canton. The Englishman educates him, and then sends Robin to Babel to continue his studies. But is Babel everything that Robin wants or expects it to be?
This truly imaginative novel looks at colonialism, the power of language, resistance and sacrifice.
I loved the narration as well, it really added to the story, I felt, particularly the footnotes that were inserted into the rest of the dialogue explaining pronunciation and etymology (I really liked these parts, more than is normal or socially acceptable, probably! 🤭). I’ll admit that there were some mispronunciations of the Oxford colleges which would have been easy to avoid (I have to admit to mainly learning how to pronounce them by watching University Challenge 😆).
If you love language, languages (I do!), fantasy and an alternative history, then this will really appeal to you.
I do feel that I should have finished the book having learnt at least one more language though. Ah well 🤷🏼♀️
Poetry from My Heart: A Journey through Feelings
Book
Poetry: writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience, in language...
Poetry
ClareR (5955 KP) rated The Glassmaker in Books
Sep 2, 2025
Murano comes across as a magical place, both in its ability to make beautiful pieces of art from glass, and also its ability to keep those who live there in a kind of time warp or stasis. If you live on Murano, you don’t age.
Such is the case with the main character, Orsola Rosso.
We join her family when she is 9 years old and her father dies suddenly. Her brother struggles with the responsibility and skills needed to run the business - that is until a rival matriarch teaches the Rosso women (via Orsola) how to make glass beads.
I loved how real people from history were brought into the story (Casanova and Josephine Bonaparte, amongst others), and how when time jumped hundreds of years, Orsola only aged a few in that time. We see how Italy changes over time, how it modernises and how climate change endangers both lives and livelihoods.
The story and characters felt as vibrant as the glass beads. This was such a refreshing, different read. Just outstanding 🤷🏼♀️
Daniel Johnson (11 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Books
Sep 5, 2017
While I do not believe this is the best Harry Potter book (Read the Goblet of Fire, it is perfect) this book is up there with the best. With a plot that is simple yet magical, it will no doubt be remembered alongside the adventures of Tolkien, with an epic story that is character driven and imaginative to the extreme.
The book takes an even greater appeal when considered alongside the rest of the series, and with the addition of the final book, rereading is crucial. Easter eggs and secrets are hidden deep within these pages and make it a joy to read again, theorise about and delve deep into.
J.K is famous for her world building, creating something of epic scale that feels real despite how crazy it sounds. While avoiding spoilers in this review, it is important that I emphasise the importance of this book with the addition of The Order of the Phoenix. an addition that creates a thrilling new plot line that develops characters masterfully. We see the golden trio grow more than ever before, and it is a joy to experience.
Read Harry Potter, you won't regret it, and you will be a part of the biggest book series since records began. The one that defines this generation of teens, and inspired some of the greatest creators since.