I have watched the ‘Milky Joe’ episode of The Mighty Boosh so many times during lockdown. The obsession is bordering on laughable. It has actually got to the point I am considering it better than the Super Tasty Soup crimp.
March has been a weird one. Jordan and I have both been furloughed by our jobs, meaning we are on the same wakeup / eat / sleep schedule for the first time. I have unlimited time to run, read and write. We are banned from the swimming pool and I have never appreciated eggs so much in my life.
Throughout the month, I managed to read and listen to six books. A warmup month, as I have a feeling April is going to blow January, February and March out of the water. Here is to LOTS more time to read!
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1 – Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
Read via Audible
Goblet of Fire is hands down the greatest novel of the Harry Potter collection. The first Harry VS Ron tiff, followed by Hermione’s stunning Yule Ball transformation. Cunning characters, such as Rita Skeeter and Ludo Bagman as well as the return of He Who Must Not Be Named. The real beginning of the end… How could this not be your favourite?
I have rolled through four Potter’s in three months, and my steam is not halting anytime in the near isolating future. The voice of Stephen Fry has been burned into my brain, and I am not complaining.
2 – Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Read via Audible
I first acknowledged the existence of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy franchise roughly a year ago via The Penguin Podcast. Douglas Adams’ fabled world of kooky characters and charming places has since had a magnetic pull. In March, I finally gave the first instalment a spin.
Recognised as a cult classic, the first book follows stowaway Arthur, who (upon discovering the entire earth and house has been blown up) exists on a spaceship. Armed with wit and a lack of optimism, Arthur hurtles through the stratosphere encountering white mice, the meaning of life, super computers and the famous Heart Of Gold.
Intrigued? Confused? Want more? All of the words to the left? Excellent, you shall enjoy HHGTTG tenfold.
I listened to the book narrated by Stephen Fry, giving it extra depth and comedic value. I would highly recommend. Jesus, my blog is just becoming a homage to that man.
3 – Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Read via Kindle
After pelting through fantasy fiction at the months opening, I found Delia Owens’ Where The Crawdads Sing to be a serious bump back to earth. The novel is a weird murder mystery/coming-of-age hybrid, with science slices and dark themes of abuse, abandonment and rape. A walk in the park read.
The novel follows Kaya, a girl known as ‘The Marsh Girl’ who lives on the outskirts of town. Chase Andrews, the local football startlet, has been found dead. Kaya is thus thrown into the tornado when she is accused of murdering him. Hauled in front of the town, Kaya is tested and treated ill – a parallel to her earlier life. Jumping forward in time, and heaving backwards for context, Where The Crawdads Sing is a remarkably jumbled book which surprisingly works.
While not my personal gravy boat, I can understand why this book has been ranted and raved about worldwide. I am glad I digested it.
4 – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Read via physical copy
Much like February’s gush of glamour girls, March has its own New York stars too. Meet Evelyn Hugo – a spunky, ruthless get-rich-or-die-trying princess. She is daring. She has fucked and frolicked to make Hollywood her home. She brought female ejaculation and sexual pleasure to the big screen. She succeeded all seven (!!!) of her ex-husbands. She is ready to spill her wicked past to an unknown freelance magazine writer… But why?
A book about desperation, identity, sexuality, adoration, longing and most importantly: love. How far would you go to save the reputation of those you admire?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a ballsy book, one which captured my attention immediately. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing style is simple yet sublime. Her sentences expel flavour and controlled depth. You can almost physically feel Evelyn Hugo as a real human being; hear her perfume crackle and taste her curled blonde locks. I am in love with a woman, and her name is Evenlyn Hugo.
5 – The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
Read via Kindle
I absolutely treasure Anthony Horowitz’s literary voice. His writing is always exuberant and luxurious; it is like sheer velvet in your hands. His word flow is outstanding and everything he touches is a treat to drink. The Sentence is Death – the second in the Daniel Hawthorn series – is no different.
Captivating and mysterious, the novel opens with Horowitz (a main character in his own book) being catapulted into a death where the murder weapon is wine. Trickery and deceit, corruption and secrets – we hurtle through an inquiry we are as keen to solve as Horowitz. A whodunnit which really shines, The Sentence is Death is satisfying as fuck.
6 – The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
Read via physical copy
I am not sure whether it was the unlikable setting of post-World War I Toulouse, the depthless characters, the style over substance narrative or simply just the storyline itself; but I found The Winter Ghosts to be a challengingly dislikable read.
The novel follows Freddie, who’s beloved brother, George, was reported missing in action during WWI. Since, Freddie has had a nervous breakdown, been shunned by his family and has escaped to Toulouse. A car crash later, he discovers a town where not everything is as it seems, and he encounters the ghosts of winter.
Pale and uninteresting, I found Mosse’s book boring and difficult to enjoy the presence of. I did pick this book up on a whim out of a ‘Lending Library’; where it will be going back. Not for me, nope!
ELLA LOUISE SCOTT 
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