Spell the Month in Books - December

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The theme for this month is Giftable. The biggest challenge is finding three E books!

D - Dinner by Nagi Maehashi - We have been cooking out of this cook book for more than a year every week and I am sure anyone could find recipes to cook out! 

E - Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - This book is funny, irreverent and the start of a series, so you could give someone the next book next year as well! (my review)

C - I am cheating with this one but picked it because it is a lot of fun and is now part of my Christmas tradition. I think I totally get away with it because after all the C in December sounds like an S anyway! Secret History of Christmas by Bill Bryson 

E - Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - This is an older book but it was on that gives you all the feels. It is also a YA book so would work for a range of giftees. (my review)

M - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - Another book with all the feels. I have read, and loved, this a few times now! (my review)

B - Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - This might be something a little different but it gives Japanese foodie charm vibes. (my review)

E - Emma by Jane Austen - maybe a lovely special edition in honour of Jane Austen's 250th birthday.

R - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt - I would recommend the audio of this one. The guy who does the voice of the octopus was exceptional and he is voicing in it the upcoming movie!

I hope that you all get the books you want as gifts this year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Spell the Month in Books: November

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the titles of books to spell the month name. The theme for November is Nostalgia so I am going to use books that I read more than 10 years ago. Quite a few of them have brought back memories for me. Let's get started!

N - Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - I don't read much fantasy these days, but I adored this book when I first read it! And then I was super eager for the second book which I liked, and super eager for the third book.....which has never arrived and I don't think it ever will.

O - One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - I thought the early books of the Stephanie Plum series were absolutely hilarious. I remember laughing until I cried in the middle of the night at the antics. Then, as the series went on, they were less hilarious and more silly. I finally gave up reading them at book 19. 

V - Virgin River by Robyn Carr - I loved the series so much I read the series, which at the time was 18 books long, and then reread half the series again. I can't think of another author I have done that with. Despite that, I still haven't read the last book in the series which came out 8 years later. (My post about the series)

E - Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I loved this book so much!(My review)

M - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I used to cry a lot at books, but this is one that I remember ugly, ugly crying at it. It was so good! There's supposed to be a movie coming out of the follow up book soon too! (My joint review)

B - Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant - I used to read a lot more Medieval and Renaissance books than I do these days. This was a good one!

E - Emma (Vol 1) by Kaoru Mori - Influenced by other bloggers at the time, I was reading two graphic novels series, although I guess this one is more technically manga. One was the Fables series by Bill Willingham and this was the other series. (My review)

R - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - My review of this book was one of the first I ever wrote.

The theme for December is Giftable!

Spell the Month in Books: October

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the titles of books to spell the month name. The theme for October is This month’s theme is Trick or Treat: books that you feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively

Let's get started

O - Once Upon a Thyme by Jane Lovering - I started reading Jane Lovering's books a couple of years ago now and I really enjoy them. Most of them are set in Yorkshire which is near where I lived when I lived in the UK.

C - Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon - Don't be confused. This isn't a Diana Gabaldon book hou havne;t read. In the UK and Australia the first novel in the Outlander series was originally called Cross Stitch.

T - To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - I feel like a reread of this whole series wouldn't go astray!

O - On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - I also feel like I could easily reread all of Melina Marchetta's books too. I think of this book every time I hear the song Flame Trees by Cold Chisel. Every time without fail!

B - Beartown by Fredrik Backman - This was a 5 star read from earlier this year. I need to read the second book in the trilogy!

E - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - This one was a five star read from a few years ago!

R - Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly - I loved the Rose trilogy from Jennifer Donnelly and this book. I haven't read much by her since then but I have such fond memories of the books I love.

November's theme is Nostalgia. Not sure what direction I will take that one in. Good job I have a month to think about it.

Spell the Month in Books: September

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the titles of books to spell the month name. The theme for September is Something to Savor – longer books (define as you will) OR ones that have been on your TBR for a long time. I am going to do something a bit different from the theme this month. My twist is that I am going to use the concept of long in a few different ways

Let's get started!

S - Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran - I chose this one because we are about to visit Sri Lanka. It is a destination that has been on my bucket list for a long time and I am really looking for

E - Emma by Jane Austen - Written so long ago but I still haven't read it

P - Persuasion by Jane Austen - Although I have read both Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice

T - Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich - I have been keeping a spreadsheet of all of the books I have read for the last 21 years which is a long time! This is the first title that is on my list of books read that starts with T (not counting the ones that begin with the word The)

E - The Endless Forest by Sara Donati - This is the final book in the Into the Wilderness series, which are all long books!

M - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - I listened to this so long ago it was on cassette tapes. Funnily enough I got to the last cassette, and it was damaged, so I ended up having to go to the library to read the last few chapters!

B - Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth - Part historical fiction but also part retelling of Rapunzel fairy tale where she has to let down her long hair

E - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - I loved the Jasper Fforde books especially the Thursday Next books, but it has been a long time since I read this author

R - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - one of the first books I ever reviewed around 20 years ago which is so long ago

October's theme is Trick or Treat – Books that you feel strongly about whether positively or negatively. Should be a bit easier month with the only challenge being two O books that meet the prompt!

Spell the Month in Books: August

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the titles of books to spell the month name. The theme for August is Written by your favorite author(s). To be honest, the two U's in this month have made this a bit tricky. Thankfully these are the last U months for the year. 

It is also Aussie August 2025 and so I have chosen to use only Australian authors. So here are my choices for August

Addition by Toni Jordan - I always love the sound of Toni Jordan's books. She has a new book coming out soon and again it sounds great! (My review)

Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood - This is book number 8 in the Phryne Fisher mystery series. (My review)

Glitter Rose by Marianne de Pierres - This is a bit out of left field for me as I don't remember much about this short story collection. When I did read it, I gave it a 4.5 rating. (My review)

Undercover Billionaire by Amy Andrews - I had a lot of fun reading this book earlier this year. (My review)

Silver Wattle by Belinda Alexandra - I have really enjoyed the Belinda Alexandra books I have read! (My review)

The Tea Ladies by Amanda Hampson - I have read all three books in this series this year and I gave them all 4.5/5! (My review)

September's theme is Something to savor – longer books (define as you will) OR ones that have been on your TBR for a long time. The challenge for September is going to be finding three E books. That is three titles beginning with E, not three ebooks as I have hundreds of them on my Kindle

Will you be joining us?

Sunday Salon: Spell the Month in Books - July

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. The theme  for July is set in a fantasy world or fictional place! Given that I am participating in Paris in July, all of these books have a French connection. Now I am not suggesting that France is fictional, but I am always dreaming of visiting it so that makes it my fantasy right?

We won't talk about the fact that I had to cheat a little bit for the J and the Y. Shhhh!

A Wish Upon Jasmine by Laura Florand - A few years ago now I had a massive reading slump that lasted a good couple of years. I think one year I only read about 10 books. Laura Florand was one of the few authors I was still reading. I really enjoyed all of her books which combined France and chocolate and perfume! This book is the second book in the La Vie en Roses series. I wish she was still writing now. 

Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn - I read this book earlier this year. It was the first I had read by this author who is a wine expert and appears on British TV. (my review)

Lunch in Paris: A Delicious Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard - It's hard to believe I read this book 14 years ago now, but it's true. I originally posted about this book and linked it up to Paris in July back in 2011. This is the story of a woman whom move to France for love, the fabulous food she ate and the challenges that she faced. I still love this cover. (my review)

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes - This is a dual timeline where the historical time frame is WWI France (my review)

August's theme is Written by your favorite author(s). Finding two U books is going to be very challenging I think!

Will you be joining us?

Spell the Month in Books - June

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month. I will be sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. The theme  for June is Books that you found or currently see at the library! Once again I am grateful to my past self who used to record where her books came from and so I was able to find my books for this prompt. These days I record it in a different place.

So here are my choices for June

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey - This is a coming of age story set in Western Australia. I liked this one but I still haven't read anything more by him!

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand - I remember being so moved by this book. 

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb - I read the first 18 books in this series, and then just kind of stopped without really meaning too. It does astonish me that there are currently 60 books in the series with at least another two to come. Given that J D Robb also writes as Nora Roberts, it's pretty astonishing really. (My review)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - Oh, this book! When I was doing this post I went back and found my review of this book. Sometimes, when I read old reviews I am surprised by them, and so it was with this review! The book clearly impacted me at the time.(My Review)

July's theme is Set in a fantasy world or fictional place.

Will you be joining us?

Spell the Month in books - May

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. There is also usually a theme each month, but May is a freebie! It is also the shortest month so it should be relatively easy, right? Except I have really struggled to come up with my own theme. 

In the end, I looked at my spreadsheet of books read and look for the most recent book I have read and then would figure out a theme from there. The first book was something I listened to, so my theme is books I listened to!

Mis-directed by Lucy Parker - Narrated by Nicola Coughlin and Gwilym Lee, this was a fun story about two cast members in a historical TV drama fall in love!

Atlas:  The Story of Pa Salt by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker - Narrated by Richard Armitage (swoon) and Tuppence Middleton, this was the final book in the Seven Sisters series. 

The Yellow Wood by Minnie Darke - This was another Audible original and it was narrated by Remy Hii and Aisha Aidara.

Interestingly, all of these performances were by two narrators which I wouldn't have said was something I normally listen to a lot!

The June theme is Summer Reading Begins; use books you found at the library or see there. I will probably twist this to Winter Reading but I am not sure yet

I am sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted by Readerbuzz.

Spell the Month in Books - April

Reviews From the Stacks

Welcome to the April edition of Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. There is also a theme each month, with the theme for April being animals on the cover. 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - I couldn't go past this children's classic which includes talking hares, grinning cats and so much more!

The Restaurant in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen - Whilst I might be cheating with this one, this is the first book in a series set in a small Australian coastal town called  in Pelican Crossing, and the word pelican appears in the title of every one of them

Rescue my Heart by Jill Shalvis - It's been many years since I read Jill Shalvis, but I do recall enjoying her trilogy called Animal Magnetism, which is set in and around an animal shelter 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros - Does a dragon count as an animal?

Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters - This is the fourth book in the excellent Amelia Peabody series set in Victorian Egypt. 

There's no set theme for May. Maybe I will have to come up with my own! Or maybe I will just keep it simple next month. We'll see when we get closer to the time!

I am sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted by Readerbuzz.

Sunday Salon: Spell the Month in Books - March

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until after that as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. There is also a theme each month, with the theme for March being Sci Fi. I am not going to lie. I thought I was really going to struggle with sticking to the theme, but this was actually the easiest one so far!

The Martian by Andy Weir - This is one of my favourite movies, and I loved the audiobook of it too.

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness - It's funny. I was thinking about using a different Patrick Ness book for something else the other day, and then I needed an A and here this one was! This is the second book in the Chaos Walking series.

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells - I love the Murderbot series. They aren't my normal genre, but they are fun and irreverent, a bit violent but oh so good!

Cordelia's Honor  by Lois McMaster Bujold - Somewhat strangely these are a combined issue of books 1 and 7 in the Vorkisagan series. 

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir  - I have read the first book in this series, Gideon the Ninth, but haven't read this one yet

Much easier than I expected! 

The April theme is Animal on the Cover or in the Title.

I am sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted by Readerbuzz.

Sunday Salon: Spell the Month in Books -- February

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until the third Sunday as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month.


The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. There is also a theme each month, with the theme for February being Valentine’s Day/something sweet on the cover. 

Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas - A caterer in an aged care home takes a busload of pensioners with her when she goes to Germany to meet a baker she met online.

Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood - This is about a baker who solves crime on the side and it is set in Melbourne! This author is better known for her Phryne Fisher series. (my review)

Battle Royale by Lucy Parker - Two bakers go head to head for the chance to cook for a royal wedding. At first they are fierce rival but when they have to work together, sparks fly.

Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop by Rebecca Raisin - After all that cake we need a cup of tea, surely? (my review)

Under the Maui Sky by Kellie Coates Gilbert - I haven't actually read this book but I do own it. The family in this one run a pineapple plantation! Just the thought of that brings back memories of eating pineapple ice cream when we visited Hawaii a couple of years ago.

The Art of Cake Alice Oehr - This was a delightful little book featuring some history of cake, some recipes and lots of sweet drawings. Click on the link for an example of a page. (my review)

The Recipe for Happiness by Jane Lovering - This book features a cook in a day centre for the aged. (my review)

Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan - To be fair, this book isn't really about cake at all or have much sweetness, but it works for this prompt! (my review)

The hardest letter for me this month was the U! 

The theme for next month is Science Fiction. Not sure I will be able to the whole thing with science fiction as it isn't a genre I read a lot of, but I will try.

I am also sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz and given the foodie theme which inadvertently ended up being in the post I am also sharing it with Weekend Cooking which I host.

Sunday Salon: Spell the Month in Books - January

 

Reviews From the Stacks

For 2025 I have decided to have a go at Spell the Month in Books which is hosted at Reviews From the Stacks. The link party opens on the first Saturday of the month, but I won't be posting until the third Sunday as I already have other things scheduled every Saturday and for the first two Sundays of the month.

The idea is that you use the title of books to spell the month name. There is also a theme each month, with the theme for January being New.

The Jam Queens by Josephine Moon - I read this back in 2021, and it was the first book I read from this author which made her a new author to me.  I had owned another book for a while, and still do! (My review)

At the Foot of the Cherry Tree by Alli Parker - I listened to this book at the beginning of last year. It was my first book by this author, and told the story of her grandparents, and in particular her Japanese grandmother starting a new life here in Australia

A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland - This was my first book from this author, and I couldn't resist using the word new given the theme for this month! (My review)

Under a Summer Skye by Sue Moorcroft - This is the first book in Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters trilogy. We visited Isle of Skye last year which was a new destination for me (My review)

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman - This short story was my first read from a new to me author (My mini review)

A Recipe for Christmas by Jo Thomas - This book features a character moving to Switzerland to learn new skills as a chocolate maker and to make a new start (My review)

Yellowface by R F Kuang - I bought this recently which makes this a new book on my TBR pile.

That was actually harder than I expected, especially the letter Y! And there's another Y in February so I have a few weeks to work out how I am going to approach that as I would prefer to not repeat the books I use very often. The theme for next month is Valentines Day/Something sweet on the cover.

I am also sharing this post with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz