The Pen and Inkpot

Good things come in small packages. That’s how the saying goes, or at least that’s what they say to my 5-foot-tall sister. That’s also what I would say about “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Although it is a tiny book and a quick read, it contains some incredible writing from a thought-provoking perspective. We’ve all read books about the Holocaust. Even if historical fiction is not your thing, you’ve probably still read a book about the Holocaust. In some ways, it is an overused concept for a book, but not for this one. “Night” showed me a new, deeper, darker side of war, made both fascinating and horrifying by the fact that the story is true. A horror story written by the very man who lived through it.  “Night” is Elie Wiesel’s account of his experience of being born into a Jewish Ghetto in Hungary and sent to Nazi concentration camps. As a mere child, he endured the atrocities of life at Auschwitz and Buchenwald which lost him his family and faith. His novel explores the d...

(Chasing Starlight will be released on 11st August 2020, I received an Advanced Reading Copy from the publisher through NetGalley to review) "Chasing Starlight" is a thrilling read with suspense to keep even the bravest of readers on the edge of their seats. Kate arrives in Hollywood to live with Oliver Banks, who is her grandfather and a forgotten star of the silent movies. Her new life is not as glamorous as she had planned as Kate gets thrust onto the set of a movie and finds one of the borders staying at her grandfather's house dead on the kitchen floor. She embarks on a journey to solve the mystery while protecting Oliver and staying out of suspicion. Kate creates a very interesting character with a slowly unravelling back story. Although her past is traumatic, she creates a strong protagonist and I felt myself rooting for her as she gradually overcame her fears. Although the novel is written in third person, I still feel that Kate has a unique voice and...

If I don’t know what to read, mystery novels are my default. As long as a book has an engaging plot and interesting characters, I know that I will enjoy it. That is why I picked up Whispers Underground. It sounded quirky and mysterious and the blend of magic and reality intrigued me.  The Rivers of London series revolves around Detective Grant who is a police officer working on solving cases involving magic and superstition. This particular novel tells the story of a murder in the tunnels of London’s underground railway done with a magical shard of pottery. I was interested throughout the whole novel however I became confused at times by the magical references and the way that the “magical” world worked. That may have been due to the fact that this book is not the first in the series. At times there were sayings or mannerisms which I did not understand either, perhaps it is because I’m not British. On the other hand, I really liked the characters and their unusual int...

When I was 10 years old, I developed a huge love for historical fiction novels. I adored reading about little girls who travelled back in time to live as orphans in London or in cotton factories during the Industrial Revolution. I have since grown out of that obsession, but I still appreciate a good historical fiction novel. That is why I picked up “The Librarian of Auschwitz”. This novel is gripping, gruesome, heart breaking and heart-warming all at once. It tells the story of one brave girl caught amidst the war who finds refuge in protecting a few surviving books for a secret school in the middle of the Auschwitz Birkenau family concentration camp. This was quite a heavy novel. As I read, I was faced with the alarming truths of the Holocaust and the real struggles of the prisoners of WWII. The main character, Dita Kraus is the perfect protagonist. She is vulnerable and scared, yet still manages to be brave and selfless. She is growing up in a world which has not been kind ...

I was enthralled by Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” and was left hanging at the ending. Luckily, I had anticipated this situation and had already purchased the sequel novel, “Crooked Kingdom”. I dived right back into it, and here’s what I thought…  Set in the dodgy alleys of Ketterdam in a fantasy world where Grisha are hunted for their powers, Kaz Brekker and his crew of talented misfits are on a mission to take back what is rightfully theirs… and a bit more. While their faces are plastered on Wanted posters on every street corner, they make desperate attempts to prevent the city from starting a war over the discovery of the most dangerous drug to ever exist. This is an action-packed story full of twists and turns. The character’s intricate escape plans keep the reader guessing and nothing is ever as it seems. The plot is never dull, when not breaking into mansions and sword fighting on tightropes, the characters are undergoing deep character development, the past...

It's a week before the big test. You have forgotten the topics you learnt earlier in the year and the teacher hasn't given you any revision. What do you do? In this post, I have gathered some of my most effective study tips to help you to ace your next test or exam. Keep in mind  the amount of time you have to revise and what sort of study works best for you. I find that the best results occur when I begin studying a week before the test and spread out my study throughout the week.  Tip 1: Don’t Freak Out When you have an important test or big exam coming up, the idea of remembering so much information can be very overwhelming. Try not to become stressed, instead plan out the ways in which you will revise for this test over the coming days to make sure that you don’t leave all your study until the last minute. Tip 2: Read over your notes Read through whatever you have used in class, including notes, textbooks, worksheets, PowerPoints and other resources ...

A few weeks ago, I was craving a good fantasy novel. One set in a different world that I could get lost in. That is why I picked up “Six of Crows”. It had some really great reviews online and I was intrigued by the fantasy world and unique characters. So I read it. Imagine a Harry Potter world with Charles Dickens characters and a society like Red Queen. “Six of Crows” is set in a world where some people, named Grisha, are born with strong powers, but others are not. This leads to oppression and war between Grisha and humans. In “Six of Crows” the reader follows the story of six characters. Criminals, thieves, witches and orphans, they are a questionable crew, but their leader, Kaz Brekker, couldn’t have asked for more. As they embark on a mission to win the fortune of a lifetime, they face the challenge of a lifetime. Breaking into a high security prison wouldn’t be easy, but Kaz Brekker can do anything. Or can he?   Action packed and gripping the whole way thr...