Nayu's News #260: Happy 2025!

 

A new year episode on Aikatsu! means kimono time!

Please bear with me while I catch up with posts and emails. I was very unwell all of December, which sucked as it was one thing after the other. I'm maybe 85% back to normal for me, but still regaining strength and endurance. Doing lots of gaming, some reading, and lots of tv watching. Praying the rest of the year is a healthier one that's for sure!

FYI for now my craft blog is closed for new posts, maybe will reopen in the future but I tend to post on Instagram or Blue Sky now (under the username Nayuleska).

Nayu's News #259 Autumn catch up

Mizuki from Aikatsu! looking gorgeous as ever at night

 

 November has marched along mostly to me having a lot of poor sleep which was not very fun. It's why I decided not to catch up with October reading and playing lists, to give myself grace. Starting to sleep a bit better, kind of, which is nice especially as the weather is getting distinctly colder which my body hates. Busy with gaming or TV watching. I am getting back into the habit of watching anime daily as my rest time, which is fun for sure! 

 As for my laptop charger. My laptop is old, and in the next few years I will need a new one. For a long time whenever I use it the charger gets crazy hot, like so much so I feel it could be a safety issue. Last week I ordered a new one, not too expensive, thankfully. And you know what? It is so much cooler that I have to wonder what on earth was wrong my original one. It's been on a few hours and is cool to the touch apart from a slightly warm area. This is in stark contrast to the so hot I feared it might set on fire older charger. So if a charger is heating up, I advise getting a replacement. Maybe it can be cleaned if you a techincally minded person. I'm not and I don't want to electrocute myself thus a new charger happened!

Hope you all are having a good week start to autumn!  

Sakura from Aikatsu!

 

Nayu's News #258 No reading/gaming posts this month

best girl from AKB0048 anime Mimori! She shines so brightly ^u^

 

The past few weeks have been crazy, mostly recovering from vaccines and poor sleep. I'm thus skipping both September and October What I've read lists. I have read books, a lot have covers I can't show as they are too...mature for my blog. I skip the steamy scenes but do love the books. Plus I still haven't found the book where I like to keep track of what I've read/watched. It has vanished! I have started a temporary one but equally haven't read as much this month. So the next monthly catch up will be in December for November's reading. Apologies, but with little energy I have to focus on rest as Winter is not kind to me health wise. I'm getting through as I always do!

Review: Braids Take A Day by Zainab Boladale (Young Adult, 10E/10E)

 

Stunning cover by Grace Enemaku

August 2024, The O'Brien Press, 240 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from The O'Brien Press

 Uncovering secrets is like undoing braids, one at a time… 

Abidemi can’t wait for summer. She’s ready to spend some time learning new hairstyles and see where things go with her friend Jack.

But when she meets an intriguing woman from Nigeria, secrets start to unravel…

Nayu's thoughts

I have little to know experience in the trials of non-caucasian hair. The little I do know is gleaned from TV shows, movies and books such as this one. I learned so much about haircare from Abi, I'm in awe of how much time and effort goes into creating braids. Her passion for creating cute hairstyles felt infectious (I don't have energy for hairstyles, but if i did I would have learned a few new ones from youtube after reading this book. Not braids, but I'd have learned how to do a french plait for sure)

I also learned a lot about her life. I really liked the relationship she has with her father, who is a single parent. That included when everything went wrong and he made some big mistakes which majorly affected his daughter. True to life, it wasn't just her family that had issues: due to some misunderstanding Abi had friendship issues too. It's the summer after her exams and there are a lot of changes on the horizon because she is at that stage  of life when change is inevitable. I loved how close she is to her best friend, who it turns out is also having issues. Of course there is some potential romance too so Abi has a lot on her plate, there is little that is steady apart from her hair.

The myseterious Nigerian lady added a lot of drama to her life. I liked how it shows families are complicated, there isn't an easy guide for dealing with parental loss and the ensuing grief. I struggled to put down the book to get on with my life because I just wanted to know what happened next. Abi's life at the end of the book is quite different to at the start, and I really hope there is a sequel one day to see how she is doing, as I suspect life will get more complicated in the future too. She has a lot of emotions to deal with about several topics, and she does not always handle them in the best way, but they are her way and she muddles through with help (and without it). I really loved this book and definitely will reread it one day. 

Find out more about Zainab on her website. 

Suggested read

If you like books that make you think try Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais (Young Adult, 10/10E) 

 

Blog tour: First Term at Fernside by Sheena Wilkinson (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

  September 2024, The O'Brien Press, 288 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from The O'Brien Press

 Robin can’t wait to be back at Fernside boarding school. But for her younger cousin Linnet the first term at Fernside is a bit of a nightmare. And she needs Robin’s help with every little thing.

When the adorable puppy Rudy disappears, can the girls stay out of trouble long enough to solve the mystery?

Nayu's thoughts

There are never enough school stories in the world of literature. Ever! I feel that's important to note before I state the rest of the paragraph: most school stories start at the first term, which mostly is first year of secondary school (aka high school, I think. Maybe middle school - I'm English and was at school in the 90's) Fernside? It starts higher up the school and one of the main protagonists isn't even the new girl!!! This is a novel formula to me for school stories and I lapped it up in a few hours. Initially I didn't like Robin a lot, she is fairly sensible and confident, and is used to school life. Linnet (not Lynette, matron!) is not an Enid Blyton Gwen. Linnet has never been to school, has a lot of anxiety and absolutely is not used to a busy schedule. As Robin's cousin, both students and teachers alike expect Linnet to be shown the ropes by Robin. Robin dislikes this, she just wants to get on with her comfy school life and not dry the tears and be exasperated by her younger family member.

Needless to say the chalk and cheese duo take time to get used to each other. Linnet says whatever she feels like saying - she isn't rude on purpose but she simply doesn't know that sometimes keeping quiet is tactful. Somewhere it is said she is emotionally immature and this is true. The milk incident was not her fault, and made me feel sorry for her as she tries to stand up for herself, but isn't always listened to. All her odd ways which mark her as unlike the other girls wind up being the reason a mystery gets solved by the end of the book. Unlike a certain Gwendoline Mary Lacey Linnet is not totally spoilt. She is highly intelligent, and sees things the other girls miss. I was rooting for Linnet's growth from page one, I loved every tentative step she took at Fernside, with the usual class bully getting punished finally for all her taunting, inclusiveness with one girl needing crutches permanently due to illness. I loved it's set in the 1920s, a time without mobile phones that had it's issues, for sure, but is a school era I love in books as it seems so innocent.

Okay so skipping out of school early, exploring the attic area and other out of bounds places isn't an innocent act, but Linnet had good reason for all of those and everything does work out in the end. My only issue is having to wait until the next book as I want more of Linnet coming out of her shell. I doubt she will ever enjoy games, but her learning to knit (or crochet, both were talked about at the same time and I can't recall which it was) was charming. There were moments when the recent war were brought up and were hard to read for the involved characters, but it made it realistic. I loved how cook and matron were both formidable characters, but some teachers like Madame were less strict in how they handled the girls. This is truly cozy school tale, one I'll re-read a lot. It's a real pleasure to be the final stop on this tour, make sure you check out the other stops! You can never go wrong with an O'Brien book.

Find out more on Sheena's website. 

Suggested read

Equally good is another O'Brien school tale out earlier this year, The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac a'Bhaird and Lauren O'Neill (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

 

What I read in August 2024

August has been a busy reading month for me, I joined my local library to get mostly audiobooks easily but I'm reading a few ebooks too (not loving it on my phone though). I also joined Kindle Unlimited. I ummed and ahhed for a few days, but it has so many genres I love (especially urban fantasy) that I decided to try it and so far it's working really well. It's similar price to if I wanted to go use my local library with family taking me so it makes sense for me. Let's see what I've read! 

 The Summer I Saved the Wild by Rachel Faturoti, Children's, Middle Grade, very good
It was a bit too much save the planet for me but the overall tale was enjoyable. Review here

 

 Vern and Lettuce by Sarah McIntyre, Children's, Graphic novel, 7 years +, excellent
A hilarious animal friendship duo have a lot of fun together. Review here.

 

 Pirate Academy by Justin Somper, Children's, Middle Grade, reread, excellent
Book 2 is more exciting and drama filled than book 1 in this sea adventure series. Review here.

 

 A Gift of Grace by Amy Cliptson, Audiobook, Amish romance, relisten, excellent
First in a beautiful Amish bakery series that I relisten to at least twice a year 

 

A Promise of Hope by Amy Clipston, Audiobook, Amish romance, relisten, excellent
The focus on God and family is always interesting

 A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston, Audiobook, Amish romance, relisten, excellent
A true comfort read

 

 Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage by Teresa F Morgan, Romance, reread, excellent
Maddy has a cat, and together they find shelter in their initially unpleasant neighbour's life due to a fire that was not an accident.

 Heart's Sentinel by P J Schnyder, Romance, Reread, excellent
This shapeshifter tale is heartwarming as MacKenzie learns to be both cat and human. Review here

 

Vox by Christine Dulcher, Dystopian, Thriller, very good
Scary future where in America women's voices are reduced to just 100 words, jobs aren't allowed and much worse in this thriller.

 

 The Girl in Seat 2B by Diana Wilkinson, Thriller, very good
Lots of fake living in this tale

 

 Raz Beri by Matt Stephens, Children's, Middle Grade, excellent,
Life in a wheelchair isn't easy but Billy learns to stand up for himself. Review here

 Touch and Feel: Farm by Spring Street, Children's, Board Book, Picture book, very good
Several animals have various parts in soft material for young ones to investigate. Review here.

 

 Are You Small? by Mo Willems, Children's, Picture book, Non-fiction, excellent
Many small things are investigated in this book. Review here.

 Contest by Matthew Reilly, Audiobook, relisten, excellent
The 1st book by the now award winning thriller author, a father and daughter end up in an alien competition to the death

 Sara's Dream Role by Holly Webb, Children's, Middle Grade, excellent
Being at drama school with a drama resistant family is hard on Sara. 

 

 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Classic literature, very good
Finally a Jane Austen I understood mostly, but didn't like the end as the character I liked, Elinor, didn't end up with who I wanted. This wasn't the edition I had but I love the cover.

 Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie, Urban Fantasy, excellent
A new to me series which is so addictive, has a good balance of drama and humour (a cover I don't like)

 

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie, Urban Fantasy, excellent
2nd in the compelling series that I can't stop reading (cover is so-so)

 Two Witches and a Whiskey by Annette Marie, Urban Fantasy, excellent
Life is a bit darker for Tori, but she has the best sidekicks and friends

 Demon Magic and a Martini by Annette Marie, Urban Fantasy, excellent
Tori continues to lead a magic filled life, much to her brother's disgust. 

 

 The Alchemist and an Amaretto by Annette Marie, Urban Fantasy, excellent
So much major drama in this installment I was taken by surprise a lot.

Review: Are You Small? by Mo Willems (Children's, Picture book, Non-fiction, 10/10E)

 July 2024, Union Square Kids, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Union Square Co

Are YOU small?

A little question sends readers on a BIG adventure to see the smallest of the small. From an average-size kid . . . to a cookie crumb . . . to a water molecule . . . all the way down to a single quark, readers discover that size is a matter of perspectiv

Nayu's thoughts

This was the second book from a publisher for young readers (I requested the books to be randomised) and it is so cute! the back cover has a ruler on the side to provide context for what is small. Each page (except the first) has an image of the previous page's creature/item walking away, allowing space for the next object. It states the object that is small, but how the object is equally big at the same time. 

There are lots of questions for young inquisitive minds, with a comparison chart at the end to give an idea of how small all the tiny things discussed actually are. The colours are bold in their own way but not super bright, which makes a nice change from similar books. Don't get me wrong, I love bright colours, but colours can be more muted and still stand out. I'm sure readers will be able to identify other small objects, and may start measuring some if they have a tape measure to hand. 

Suggested read

More scientific facts can be found in The Greatest Show On Earth by Mini Grey (Children's, Non-fiction, 9/10E)