Lynn's Film & Book Review: July 2020

Sunday, 26 July 2020

Sunday Post #114

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where bloggers discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics.

Life

Corona numbers are increasing and that gives me a bad feeling. Normally, I'm not a home as much during Summer break and staying at home is making me a little bit bored and anxious. Luckily I did spend two days in Bruges this week. I had a lot of fun spending time with my friend.

I didn't take that many pictures in Bruges, but I do have some. Bruges has a stunning historic centre, which these pictures don't manage to fully show. So you will have to visit Bruges yourself and let it sink in :)

In other news, yesterday I played a boardgame with a friend (the game was a Christmas present). It's called Kero and it was the first time I played it. Unfortunately I noticed a piece was missing and thus the game was incomplete. I somehow feel incredibly annoyed by this.

Blog and books

I finished Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami today and I really enjoyed it. I love his writing style. I'm excited to read more of his work in the future.

I just started another Japanese book, called Sweet Bean Paste. I have only read a couple of pages but so far it's good.

This week I wrote a post about books by Black Authors I recommend and I finally also shared my June wrap up. Better late than never I guess.

Movies and TV Shows

I only watched a couple of Gran Hotel and Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes this week.

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next!

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

June 2020 Wrap Up

I didn't read all that much in June but I did find a new favourite!

1. Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4 - 20 by Hiromu Arakawa

I read volumes 4 to 20 of the manga series: Fullmetal Alchemist. I enjoyed my time reading these but I do believe the series is a bit too long.

2. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata,

This is a gem! I'm really happy I read this short Japanese novel. It has sparked in interest in reading more Japanese fiction, as you will be able to tell from my following book hauls and wrap up.

It’s a very short story about a woman who loves working in a convenience story. She is happy with the way she lives her life but society, friends and family think she should do better. 5 stars, I can't recommend this book enough! Convenience Store Woman is my favourite book of 2020 so far.

Do you have a favourite read this year?

What did you read recently?
Have you read any of these books or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts and recommendations down below!

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Monday, 20 July 2020

Books by Black Authors I Recommend

BLACK LIVES MATTER! Today I want to recommend books by Black authors to show my support with the Black Lives Matter movement. I planned to do this a month ago, but due unexpected circumstances I had to postpone it. Nevertheless it is still as relevant today as it was a month ago.

These are in no particular order:

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

I read this extraordinary novel a couple of years ago and it's one of the books that stayed with me the most. It tells the story of multiple generations and it had quite an impact on me.

They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery

I don't often read non-fiction but I'm happy I read and reviewed this one. I don't remember all the details (as I read this in 2017) but in my opinion it was a good introduction to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This young adult novel probably needs no introduction. It's incredible, just read it!

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Another historical fiction novel on this list, although I do prefer Homegoing, if I'm being completely honest.

A Mercy by Toni Morrison

A Mercy not as well-known as other Morrison books (which I have yet to read) but I liked the writing style and plot and hope to read more Morrison soon.

Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor

A science-fiction novella. I still need to read the others but this was quite enjoyable.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert

This was a fun romance novel, I'm excited to read the sequel as well.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

This thriller was such a quick and enjoyable read. I love the title and the cover, they intrigued me.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is a short but important essay on feminism.
One of the quotes I liked the most:

“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”
We Should All Be Feminists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Which are your favourite books by Black authors? Let me know in the comments!

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sunday, 19 July 2020

Sunday Post #113

Life

I miss being able to travel to other countries but I'm enjoying discovering new places in Belgium as well. What are you doing to keep yourselves busy?
Yesterday, I had a great time catching up with my friend, first time seeing each other since this corona thing started.

Blog and books

I finished The Ghost Bride at the beginning of the week and I thought it was great! I recommend it if you are looking for a good ghost story. I started Norwegian Wood (and by started I mean, I read 20 pages). I hope to continue soon.
A lot of people commented on the picture of this book on Instagram, and their praise for this book makes me want to read it all the more. I just hope the slump doesn't return.

Movies and TV Shows

I watched two films this week: Fight Club and The Marriage Story. Both films I have been wanting to watch for quite some time and I'm so happy I finally did. They're great!

Stay safe and enjoy the summer!

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next!

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sunday, 12 July 2020

Sunday Post #112

Life

I'm back! I have been absent for a couple of weeks because things got really busy and my mother had to have an unexpected operation and that stressed me out too much.
Luckily the operation seemed to have gone well, although we don't know all the results yet.

The good news is, I'm now on my Summer break!

Blog and books

I'm slowly getting out of my reading slump and I finally finished The Fullmetal Alchemist series this month! I can now return it to my friend before an actual year has passed.

I'm currently reading The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. I'm really enjoying it, it makes me think of the film Coco (but only a little bit). Netflix recently adapted The Ghost Bride but I haven't seen the show yet.

What are you currently reading?

Movies and TV Shows