AvidBards
Reflections

The Rise of Celebrity Biographies

A New Chapter in Self-Promotion? Today’s post is a bit more of a reflective one as I delve into a topic that has been on my mind recently. In recent years, the literary landscape has seen a significant surge in celebrity biographies and memoirs, and not just from stars who have been in the public eye for decades. Even relatively young celebrities—such as pop star JoJo (formally known as Joanne Marie Levesque), former Nickelodeon actress Jennette McCurdy, and, most recently, pop icon Britney Spears—are publishing tell-alls that often top bestseller lists. This trend extends to high-profile figures like Prince Harry…

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Books

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse Book Review

Love, Loss, and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre: A Closer Look at The City of Tears and Its Shifting Historical Lens Title: The City of TearsAuthor: Kate MossePublisher: PAN MACMILLANThemes: Forbidden love, Religious persecution, Family loyalty, Survival amidst conflict, Identity and belonging In The City of Tears, the second instalment of Kate Mosse’s trilogy on the Huguenot diaspora, Mosse picks up the story of Minou and Piet amid one of the most turbulent events of the 16th century—the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Building on themes of survival, faith, and the harrowing toll of religious conflict introduced in The Burning Chambers…

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Books

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse Book Review

Exploring Faith and Survival in The Burning Chambers: A Historical Dive into the Huguenot Rebellion Title: The Burning ChambersAuthor: Kate MossePublisher: PAN MACMILLANThemes: Forbidden love, Religious persecution, Family loyalty, Survival amidst conflict, Identity and belonging “You well know that if a lie is repeated often enough, in the face of the clearest evidence to the contrary, even the most level-headed of men start to believe in it. Falsehood easily becomes accepted truth.” A good book recommendation is like a little gift, especially when it comes from one of your favourite people who knows exactly what you’ll love. The Burning Chambers…

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Books

“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin

Friendship, Ambition, and Second Chances Through the Lens of Gaming and Identity Title: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowAuthor: Gabrielle ZevinGenre: Literary FictionPublisher: Knopf (2022)Themes: Friendship, Creativity, Identity, Video Games, Ambition, RedemptionTW: Death, Trauma, Guns, Ambiguous Consent “What is a game?” Marx said. “It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.” Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was one of those books that had me completely obsessed from the first page. The novel offered a…

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Books

Cleopatra and Frankenstein – Book Review

The Dark Side of Bohemian Life in NYC Title: Cleopatra and FrankensteinAuthor: Coco MellorsGenre: Literary FictionPublisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (2022)Themes: Love, Creativity, Identity, Loneliness, Addiction, Ambition, RedemptionTW: Addiction, self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempt, loss of a parent, sexual assault “People are like this too, you know,” he says eventually. “We break. We put ourselves back together. The cracks are the best part. You don’t have to hide them.” Coco Mellors’ Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an ambitious debut that attempts to paint an intimate, raw picture of love, identity, and the exhilarating chaos of life in New York City. The novel centres…

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Books

6 Perfect Books for Cosy Autumn and Spooky Halloween Vibes

As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, nothing beats curling up with a good book in the autumn. Whether you’re craving the eerie atmosphere of Halloween or just want something that pairs perfectly with a pumpkin spice latte, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a mix of spine-tingling thrillers, atmospheric mysteries, and cosy autumnal reads that’ll make you want to settle in and never leave your reading nook. 1. The October Country by Ray Bradbury I mean, it’s literally called “The October Country”—could there be a better autumn read? Ray Bradbury is a master of the eerie and…

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