reading and discussing books
My name is Anna, and this is my blog where I talk about books. I will be reviewing books, giving my two cents on a number of topics related to books and the reading world right now, and discussing writing techniques and how they shape novels. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you have a lovely day!
The more I spend time on bookish social media, the more I find myself stumped by this question. On some days, the answer is one way, but then a few weeks, or even days later, it will change. It shouldn’t, but it does. Why is that? I don’t think I am alone in this conundrum; in fact, I know I am not. What is it about these spaces that makes us feel we need to…
Keep readingAnother big book award lineup was announced at the end of February, and I am a little behind on mentioning it, but the Booker Prize for 2026 has an outstanding longlist of thirteen books. The main criteria for these books are that they are “long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026”, but that does not mean that…
Keep readingThe Ockhams 2026 finalists have been released, and I have been pleasantly surprised by the line-up. I think it is pretty safe to say that I have more books to read over the next month, as these sixteen shortlisted titles provide a great range of reading and voices to appreciate and experience. Let me remind you all of the premises and provide more information for the non-fiction titles. If you’re anything like me, you’re going…
Keep readingIt has dawned on me over the last week or so that I have never taken time away from annafromuni since my first post in May 2023. While I can commend myself for sticking with it and continuing to read, review, and contribute to discussions about books and the literary world, I am realising that this also means I don’t have a mental break from reading books and writing reviews. It is time that I…
Keep readingReading mood: sluggish – as expected, the summer heat and increase in PhD work have led to reading fewer books than anticipated. The books I have finished have been great reads, but there have been more than a few books I started reading and felt would be better read at a later time, when I would enjoy them more, so I put them aside. I also feel like there may still be some of the…
Keep readingThe end of summer here in the southern hemisphere, and the end of my month of multiple reading genres. From works by African descendants and local New Zealand writers to a few reads on love and romance, February has provided me with a great selection of genres and themes to keep my busy brain engaged and intriguing. I am finishing the month off with a local recent release, Good Things Come and Go by Josie…
Keep readingI loved reading Rebecca Ross’ historical fantasy duology Letters of Enchantment, with Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows both serving as enjoyable and inspirational reads. The language use, tone and atmosphere, and overall feel of the books were so immersive and beautiful, and I remember them fondly. When I heard that Wild Reverence was being published, I was torn. On one hand, I really do like the narrative styles of Rebecca’s historical fantasy story world, but the YA-leaning…
Keep readingAs soon as I found out that All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is a Black historical fiction novel, I went straight to my library account and requested a copy. Thankfully, it only took a week or so to arrive, and I am only too eager to get stuck into it and get immersed in this intense 1830s tale told from multiple gripping perspectives. Philadelphia, 1837. After Charlotte escaped from the crumbling White Oaks…
Keep readingThis is the first check-in of 2025, and honestly, I am surprised that there hasn’t been another, because I have done a lot of work over the last two months. From planning and admin to interviews and data collection, I have been dipping into all areas of my PhD. So, let me share what I’ve learnt. If you’re new to my blog or my posts, then let me do a quick introduction. I am researching…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.