The Illustrated Shelf

Satisfying eyeballs one shelf at a time.

After rekindling my love of reading during the pandemic, I started a side project illustrating and reviewing my year in books.

With a minimalist illustration style and a focus on home decor, it’s been a fun creative outlet throughout the year.

theillustratedshelf

I was tagged in the #chocolatebooktag by @stleosco

I was tagged in the #chocolatebooktag by @stleoscollegelibrary; and need I say more?

🤎 Hot chocolate – your comfort read:
The Secret Garden
My sister had a copy of this that I used to sneak in and read 🙊 (sorry, Leisha!)

🤍 Milk chocolate – a book I’m dying to read:  The Nightingale
Hope Santa remembers I put this one on my wishlist

🖤 Dark chocolate – a book that covers a dark topic:
My Sister the Serial Killer
Might juuuuust squeeze this dark and twisted story into the end of 2021

💔 Chocolate missing its filling – a book that made you cry:
The Book Thief
Did anybody NOT cry when reading this one?

Tagging some pals if you feel like taking on the challenge!

Ghosts – Dolly Alderton Prompt 37: A book you th

Ghosts – Dolly Alderton
Prompt 37: A book you think your best friend would like

This is a prompt I was really looking forward to – but due to my crippling indecision, I sent my best friend a shortlist of books and we chose one to read together. We settled on Ghosts, which I then promptly sped through because I couldn’t put it down (sorry, Dea 😅).

I LOVED this. So hard.

The book begins with our main character’s 32nd birthday, setting up for a relatable 300ish-page ride that dishes out observational comedy in spades. It’s got it all; the ups and downs of dating, family dynamics, asshole neighbours, the difficulty that comes with being in different life phases to your closest friends, and navigating life with an ageing parent with a fresh dementia diagnosis.

I was expecting the laugh-out-loud elements, and the focus on modern dating; but I was really floored by how touching and tender this novel was in parts. I’ve been feeling a bit homesick of late and was caught off guard by some of the more vulnerable moments; unexpected, but for me it really rounded out this novel in the perfect way.

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So, now that I’m done with this love-fest of a review; have you read Ghosts? What did you think?

December is here! This year has completely flown a

December is here! This year has completely flown and I am actually really excited to see December roll around.

This month I am looking forward to:
❄ All the cosy festivities (and hopefully a white Christmas)
🎨 Starting a new job! I will be a digital designer for a really exciting tech company here in Sweden
📚 Squeezing in a few last excellent reads and preparing for next year’s #popsugarreadingchallenge

What are you looking forward to most this month?

Daughters of Smoke and Fire – Ava Homa Prompt 36

Daughters of Smoke and Fire – Ava Homa
Prompt 36: A book with fewer than 1000 reviews on GoodReads

I saw this recommended by someone on facebook and I’m so thankful that I picked it up. What a breathtaking work of political fiction; and the first written in English by a Kurdish woman, no less.

The very real plight of the Kurds is told through our fictional narrator Leila, growing up in the Kurdish region of Iran with her activist father, self-involved mother and bright brother. Growing up stateless and facing government oppression at every turn, this novel really shines a light on a topic I didn’t know much about prior to reading.

Oppression, discrimination, persecution; this novel shines a light on some really tough—but important—topics. Gripping, powerful and absolutely beautifully written, I HIGHLY recommend if you’re interested in learning more on this topic.

My review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Juuuuust squeezing in a #spellthemonthinbooks stac

Juuuuust squeezing in a #spellthemonthinbooks stack for November! Thank you @thebookraiders for the tag (check out Louise’s recent post for a much better example of colour-coordinating than I could come up with 😍)

Normal People
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(The Final Revival of) Opal & Nev
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(The) Vanishing Half
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Educated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(The) Mountains Sing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Boy Swallows Universe
To be finished… 🙈

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
TBR 
(The) Reader on the 6.27
TBR

Have you read any of these ones? Let me know what you thought! 👇

QOTD: What would you put on your virtual bookshelf

QOTD: What would you put on your virtual bookshelf?

I’ve been busy pulling together my ideas for The Illustrated Shelf in 2022 – almost forgot that I wanted to squeeze in one last shelf before December begins! I’m super excited to freshen up things for next year 🤩

What would you like to see immortalised in illustration?

QOTD: Have you ever travelled somewhere because of

QOTD: Have you ever travelled somewhere because of a book?

Historical fiction adds a LOT of destinations to my list; but the first place I ever went because of a book was St Petersburg after reading The Bronze Horseman. It was the first time I’d read any accounts of Russia during WWII and I was completely captivated by this book; the beautiful descriptions of the city juxtaposed with the heartbreaking events that took place.

Where is on your wish list?

Finlay Donovan is Killing It – Elle Cosimano Pro

Finlay Donovan is Killing It – Elle Cosimano
Prompt 23: A book with something broken on the cover

Ahh this was such a fun read! Witty, light-hearted and with an unexpected dark streak, this was very easy to breeze through and absolutely lived up to my expectations.

Newly single Finlay is a mum-bun wielding author, battling writer’s block, custody issues and a casual case of mistaken identity as a hitwoman 💁🏻‍♀️. The perfect blend of mystery, romance, and humour, this one reminded me a little of the Stephanie Plum series, serving up a nice hit of nostalgia for books my best friend and I read in our early teens.

The tension build was great (if a bit far-fetched at times), and I was reminded of why I can’t read thrillers/mysteries too often (the STRESS! How do you guys do it?!). Recommend if you’re looking for an easy read with a bit of an edge that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌱 O L D , N E W B O R R O W E D , B L U E @

🌱 O L D , N E W
B O R R O W E D , B L U E

@readingupstorms tagged me in this cute challenge and I couldn’t resist the urge to illustrate some new covers!

👴🏻 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A high school assignment that turned into a forever fave

🌱 It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
Caved and just bought this much loved booksta title – my first CoHo!

🤲 The Nix – Nathan Hill
Malin, I promise to read this soon!

💙 The Mountains Sing – Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
One of my fave historical fictions reads of the year

Tagging a few friends but as always, no pressure, or feel free to consider yourself tagged if you’re feeling inspired 💫

Have you read any of these ones?

The Alice Network – Kate Quinn Prompt 40: Your

The Alice Network – Kate Quinn
Prompt 40: Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge [a book that passes the Bechdel test]

The Alice Network takes us into the world of female spies during WWI, and life in post-WWII Europe. I looove historical fiction, and am finding I particularly enjoy books with dual timelines or narrators. This was no exception, and I loved the different perspectives that our two protagonists (hardened former spy, Eve, and young American socialite, Charlie) brought to the story.

The premise is excellent and Quinn has done a stellar job with the plot; but it did take me a while to get into this one. Coming in at a little over 500 pages, it’s not a speedy read and I found myself struggling a little through the middle… and while the writing style was good, it wasn’t my favourite example I’ve come across this year.

BUT! I had to completely rethink my rating and review after completely devouring through the last 200ish pages in one sitting. I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. I developed a whole new appreciation for everything that went into the research, the writing and the way Quinn intertwined the fictional elements with what really took place (as well as the actual events themselves!). If you’ve wondered about this one or have struggled through the middle, I do recommend sticking with it!

———————

Side note; I had never heard about the Bechdel test until I was researching older popsugar challenge prompts.

Initially suggested as a joke, to pass the Bechdel test a book (or film) needs to have:
- two female characters
- who have names
- who have at least one conversation with each other that is not about a man.

That’s it. The bar is pretty damn low 😅

———————

Recommended for fans of: historical fiction, WWI & WWII novels, strong female leads

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

☁️ C L O U D S T A C K ☁️ I’ve been ta

☁️ C L O U D S T A C K ☁️

I’ve been tagged a few times in the #cloudstackchallenge and am finally getting around to it!

Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨)
Where my love of historical fiction began!

Heartless – Marissa Meyer (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Not my usual kind of read but fun nonetheless

The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨)
Absolutely ADORED this

Educated – Tara Westover (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
A 2020 read that helped me get back into reading!

I am Definitely, Probably Enough (I think) – Tori Press (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Self-love quotes meet hand drawn typography in the amazing @relevatori’s book

Tagging a few friends but no pressure, or feel free to consider yourself tagged if you’re feeling inspired ☁️ Thanks for the tags @ecrirejenesaisquoi, @shoutaboutbooks and @whatjadesread 🤍

☁️ Have you read any of these ones?

QOTD: Reading challenges; yay or nay? 📅 And ju

QOTD: Reading challenges; yay or nay?

📅 And just like that, it’s November (well, has been for a week now…)

My reading has definitely dropped back since the summer; combination of the social calendar picking up again, some freelance work and going through a recruitment process (starting my new job in January!).

I’m definitely not going to complete all the popsugar challenge prompts which kind of sucks, but I’ve made peace with – I’m well and truly back into reading now which was my ultimate goal. Going to have a think about if I take on any challenges next year, or if I just read as I feel. It’s been really fun to read things that wouldn’t have crossed my path otherwise, so something to think about!

What are your thoughts? Do you do any reading challenges (yearly or otherwise)?

QOTD: What are your fave non-fiction reads? Inte

QOTD: What are your fave non-fiction reads?

Interrupting my regular fiction broadcast to highlight this gem of a book. It has such a huge following and I’m only part of the way in but I can see why!

Have you read Atomic Habits? Drop your non-fiction recs below 👇🏼

Queenie – Candice Carty-Williams Prompt 32: A b

Queenie – Candice Carty-Williams
Prompt 32: A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"

Flawed, messy, destructive, real; all words I’d use to describe our titular character. 25 and a second-generation British-Jamaican living in London, Queenie is navigating post-breakup life, a fledgling career, mental health struggles and complex family and friendship dynamics.

Going to be totally honest here; I really did not enjoy the first half of this book. I found the lead character’s approach to things infuriating to read. But! As it went along, my perspective of it completely changed – I developed a deeper understanding and empathy for Queenie and ended up loving it. This is NOT a light-hearted retelling of some first dates gone awry; there’s a lot of hurt here, with real, confronting situations and exploration of deep wounds.

The raw and honest storytelling was a breath of fresh air – and it wasn’t afraid to tackle some super tough topics (trigger warnings in comments). Served up with some zings of witty British banter, this was exactly the kind of contemporary hit that I was looking for after a couple of more historical reads.

My review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Have you read Queenie? Lemme know what you thought!

Pink books for a cause 🌷 October is Breast Can

Pink books for a cause 🌷

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I’m doing my bit to support by helping to #paintbookstagrampink. My heart goes out to those who have been affected by breast cancer.

Take part with a stack or donation of your own, and check ya baps, ladies 💕

🦩 The Black Flamingo
A YA novel in verse about a teen discovering drag (highly recommend if you’re in a reading slump!)

🏄‍♀️ Malibu Rising
The quintessential summer read from TJR

🌏 It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake
4 stars and a lot of fun!

💄 Finlay Donovan is Killing it
Collecting virtual dust on my kindle TBR

🎸 Daisy Jones & the Six
Eleventy billion stars out of 5, SUCH an enjoyable read

Thank you @stleoscollegelibrary for the tag!

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev – Dawnie Walton

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev – Dawnie Walton
Prompt 6: A book with a gem, mineral or rock in the title

Perhaps best described with a quote from the novel itself, Opal & Nev is “much more exciting and unique rather than another tired rehash of white-dude rock-and-roll lore.” Powerful, fierce and raw, this read was so much more than I was expecting.

This faux-rockumentary takes us through the rise and fall of interracial duo Opal and Nev; blending the 70s music scene with a tangible focus on race. The interview-style storytelling and rock and roll setting make for a really engrossing read (something fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will know well!). The topic of race takes centre stage; dealing with injustice, hatred and activism in a thought-provoking and unapologetic way.

The “author’s” notes add a nice touch; bringing a present day filter and a personal connection that really help to bring the story to life. Walton’s focus on characters and complex dynamics is even more impressive when you realise this is her first novel. References to actual events and people are executed to perfection; just the right amount to make you question ”wait, did this thing really happen?”

My review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended for: fans of musical memoirs, Daisy Jones & the Six, historical and contemporary fiction fusions.

TW: racism, hate crimes, drug abuse, death

Burger book stack 🍔
 Inspired by @92reviews’s perfect S’mores stack (shared in my stories!), let me present to you my guilty pleasure stack: the humble hamburger.

🍞 Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore
One of my fave surprises of the year!

🍅 Daughters of Smoke and Fire
Pinky promise to read this one this month!

🧀 One True Loves
A sweet contemporary romance by TJR

🥩 The Book Thief
5 stars, an absolutely unforgettable book

🥬 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Cannot recommend this enough!

🍞 Anxious People
A quirky read by one of Sweden’s favourite novelists

Have you read any of these?

#qotd - What are you hoping to read this October?

#qotd - What are you hoping to read this October?

After reading a whopping one book last month, I’m looking forward to ticking a few more off the list (and already off to a much better start)!

I’m definitely a mood reader, so it’s hard to predict what is up next for me… but I’m currently immersing myself in all things 70s rock with The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Aiming for something that serves up a nice slice of contemporary for my next read.

What’s on your list?

Strawberries & Cream stack 🍓🍰 I’ve been s

Strawberries & Cream stack 🍓🍰

I’ve been sitting on this #strawberriesandcreamstack challenge for an absolute age (thank you to the exquisitely wonderful @samturnspages for the tag).

🍓 The Thursday Murder Club
Loved this clever and cosy debut from Richard Osman (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

🍦 Burial Rites
A haunting and atmospheric historical fiction set in Iceland (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

🍓 The Final Revival of Opal & New
A highly anticipated October read for me! (TBR)

🍦 The Yield
Highly recommend this Indigenous read for Aussies! (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

🍓 Daughters of Smoke & Fire
The story of a Kurdish woman fighting for her family’s freedom (TBR)

Tagging a few friends to show their own take, but zero pressure as always ❤️

Are any of these titles on your radar?

The Secret History – Donna Tartt Prompt 5: A da

The Secret History – Donna Tartt
Prompt 5: A dark academia book

The Secret History was the overwhelming response when I asked for suggestions for a ‘dark academia’ prompt, and now that I’ve read it, I couldn’t imagine anything more fitting. The prose, articulate descriptions and classic literary references really enveloped me in this fascinating and bizarre little intellectual world.

Tartt wastes no time setting the stage for the mystery; we find out the Big Thing™ in the first few pages and from then on, it is an expertly-handled build up of intrigue, impatience and infuriation. I definitely reached a point of the book where I couldn’t put it down; I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to unfold. The characters are complex and confusing (and some not overly likeable), which I can sometimes find off-putting, but something about this combination just worked.

It’s not a light or quick read in any sense (it took me the whole of September to get through it because every time I picked it up before bed I could only make it through a few pages) – bout for me it is a stellar example of literary fiction.

My review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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