Tag: Aberdeen vlog

Book Recommendation of the Month, Reviews, Scottish Reads, Vlogs

Strong Female Character

Caley Kapowski

I preordered Fern Brady’s non fiction book over a year before it was released, I didn’t even know what it was going to be about but I knew that I loved this comedian and I was excited to see what they wrote. Let me say that this book did not disappoint!

This book deserved a dedicated vlog

This was a memoir that included multiple tales from their youth, their time working in a strip club, their early comedy career as well as Fern’s autism diagnosis.

I didn’t know a great deal about autism when I started this book and I feel like I learned a lot. I also want to go on and learn more. I feel like this is the mark of a wonderful piece of non fiction, it makes you think but also that it makes you want to go on and learn more.

I read this book with the audiobook too, like a book on tape! I feel like this was an excellent way to consume this book and is my preferred way of reading memoirs. I like to hear the book literally in the author’s own words.

I laughed, I cried, I went down google rabbit holes. This was a very easy 5 star rating!

Reviews, Vlogs

Caraval Series Review

Caley Kapowski

Are you ready for a surprise? I actually finished a series! Not only did I finish a series but I competed the entire trilogy within 35 days which feels like a record for me . It’s not because I finished The Hunger Games series over one weekend in 2011 but that was almost another life! I don’t remember completing a series so quickly in recent history.

Hugging the books to show them my love

I absolutely loved this series! I gave each book 5 shiny stars.

I felt that the character development was so strong as the series followed sisters Scarlett and Donatella who really grew and came into their own. I enjoyed seeing them gain independence and acceptance that they had so sorely desired. Their sisterly bond was so strong and was beautifully written.

The world of Caraval was one of the strongest examples of world building in a series that I have read in recent memory. The world continued to expand as the series continued but I wasn’t left waiting for explanations in the earlier chapters. The world felt real and rounded and just grew to reveal new locations.

I loved the wee romances that were introduced but they felt like a second plot to the main quest element of the series.

Each book had their own mission and I found each book to be fast paced and exciting. I was left wanting more despite everything being tied up quite nicely, I just wanted more because I adored it. I feel like there wasn’t a weak link, usually there’s a slightly weaker book in a trilogy but these all felt strong and I had a great time reading this series!

Reviews, Vlogs

Weekly Reading Vlog

Caley Kapowski

This week I devoted some time to my heavily neglected kindle. I’ve so many unread ebooks so they were long overdue some attention.

I’d also been forgetting about my NetGalley approvals, despite getting so excited when I got the approval confirmation. It was like I forgot about them but I really needed to pick up the books that I’d previously been so excited about. I was so happy to pick them up because I had a good time with these books and I remembered why I was so excited to read them in the first place. Delighted!

Finally giving my kindle some love

In the last week I read the following books, which I ramble on about in my vlog:

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Each of these books came from NetGalley but my rambles are my own

Vlogs, Wrap Ups

February Wrap Up

Caley Kapowski

I had a little bit of a slower reading month in February but I found some absolute gems!

I loved 😻
Bunny – Mona Awad https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/15/bunny/

Caraval – Stephanie Garber https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/22/carnaval/

Untamed Shore – Silvia Moreno-Garcia* https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/08/untamed-shore/

I liked 😸

The Ministry of Unladylike Activity- Robin Stevens https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/13/reading-the-highest-and-lowest-rated-books-on-my-tbr-2/

The No Attraction Agreement – Nicki Bell https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/25/the-no-attraction-agreement/

Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments – TL Huchu https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/18/our-lady-of-mysterious-ailments/

Partners in Crime – Agatha Christie (short story collection)

I found it to be ok 😺

The Dinner List- Rebecca Serle

The Wilderness Retreat – Jennifer Moore*

The Wrong Side of Kai – Estelle Maskame https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/11/the-wrong-side-of-kai/

Not For Me 😿

The Lock in – Phoebe Luckhurst
Lost in a Good Book – Jasper Fforde

Read But Not Rated

Lanark – Alasdair Gray

DNF’d

One Night in Hartswood – Emma Denny*

*#gifted

Vlogs

March TBR

Caley Kapowski

With the start of a new month, it’s time to decide what I’m hoping to read this month. I played my TBR game to decide because I can’t deal with mood reading and need a plan, so I put my fate in the hands of the game.

I’m so excited in this TBR stack

Imagine my glee to find that the dice fates smiled upon me! I am so excited by my TBR and I’m looking forward to reading each and every one of them.

I didn’t manage to finish my February TBR (wrap up will be coming soon) but I’m feeling hopeful about this one. For one thing, I’ve got 3 extra days this month to finish my books.

Reviews, Scottish Reads, Vlogs

Reading Scottish- February Wrap Up

Caley Kapowski

With February coming to an end, it’s time for me to wrap up all of the Scottish fiction read this month. It’s been a very good and varied month for me and Scottish fiction. This month I read two romances, for ‘tis the season, one fantasy, and one…I have no idea what genre Lanark belongs to!

Review Vlog

In this video, I chatted about the following books;

Lanark by Alasdair Gray

The Wrong Side of Kai by Estelle Maskame

The No Attraction Agreement by Nicki Bell

Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by TL Huchu

Reviews, Vlogs

Reading Vlog- One Week, Four Books

Caley Kapowski

I had a very busy week and in this Vlog I’m chatting about all of the books that I have read this week. I’m feeling really good about them and about making progress in my February TBR!

This week I read a book by one of my favourite (and autobuy) authors – Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I also found a new favourite. But mainly, I read a whole lot of gloriously creepy books, and one very emotional read.

A good week of reading

I read the following books this week;

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore*

Bunny by Mona Awad

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia*

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

*gifted

Reviews, Vlogs

Reading The Highest and Lowest Rated Books On My TBR

Caley Kapowski

This week I decided to read both the highest and lowest rated books on my unread pile. My never ending and ever growing unread pile!

The highest rated book that I owned (according to Goodreads) was The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens. Having previously read 4 books by this author, I was excited!

The lowest rated book on my shelf was The Lock In by Phoebe Luckhurst. I got this book in a book-swap and honestly had zero expectations going in as I’d forgotten the plot. I’d also forgotten whether or not my friend who gave me it had enjoyed it. This was a bit of a wildcard read.

I also fell into a bookshop and came out with a wee book haul. I had a whole bunch of reward points and I spent them after some careful consideration.

Coincidentally, they both had gorgeous hardback covers!
Vlogs, Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up

Caley Kapowski

Here’s my January wrap up! It was a busy wee month for me and I got through 17 books which was way more than I expected

My wrap up vlog 💕

I loved 😻

Before Again – Claire S Duffy* https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/21/before-again/

Killers of a Certain Age – Deanna Raybourn
https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/07/killers-of-a-certain-age/

Legends and Lattes- Travis Baldree https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/16/legends-and-lattes/

The Woman in the Library- Sulari Gentill https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/23/the-woman-in-the-library/

I liked 😺

Only on the Weekends- Dean Atta https://kapowskireads.com/2023/02/04/only-on-the-weekends/

Sadie, Call the Polis – Kirkland Ciccone https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/14/sadie-call-the-polis/

The Book of Martyrs- Danie Ware, Alec Worley, and Phil Kelly

I found it to be ok

Mayflies – Andrew O’Hagan https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/28/mayflies/

The Set Up – Falguni Kothari https://kapowskireads.com/2023/01/18/the-set-up/

Not For Me 😿

Death Checked Out – Leah Dobrinska*
Ghost in Shining Armour- Therese Beharrie*
Ghost Wall – Sarah Moss
House in the Pines- Ana Reyes*
The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey

Reread

The Marvellous Land of Oz – L Frank Baum
Sad Cypress – Agatha Christie
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L Frank Baum

Did Not Finish

Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Reread

Vlogs

February TBR Goals

Caley Kapowski

This year I started deciding my TBR with the help of my TBR game. This game is still in beta mode while I iron out any issues. This was my second play of the game and it’s still very fun for me.

At least I can hold my intended reads

I’m so excited to see how I get on with these books. Such a mixture of genres! I think February is going to be a very enjoyable reading month…or at least a very varied reading month.

I’m also giddy that I managed to get a book from an active series onto my list. Mainly because I keep forgetting about my series goals. I also managed to get two books from my 23 in 2023 pile. This is month of remembering reading goals!