Parables from the Grave by K.R. Watts

Rating:

4 Stars

Themes:

Short Stories, Death, Fantasy

Thoughts:

I was given free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I came into this book with zero preconceptions but great intrigue as I had never read something like this before. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found the concept very interesting. I enjoyed reading the different approaches to death and what happens after from so many different viewpoints. Despite being all about death the note at the beginning is right it didn’t leave me with any morbidity or sadness, instead a sort of hope.

Favourite Quote:

"Game. You’re born into the world in a family, in a culture, that believes in a god. If you’re very lazy, you believe in that god all your life, never questioning, always betting on the accident of your birth. If you’re a little less lazy, you check out some of the other religions. You make a decision based on some criteria you make up in your head to move to one of them. If you’re extremely energetic, you may even notice that there's no way to tell which one is right, and you set out on your own, inventing your own religion, or becoming an agnostic or even an atheist."

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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