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GOODREADS – LARA KAREEM

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About Author

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Hi! My name is Lara Kareem, creator of this website. I love my culture and there are so many things to explore and share about it. I’m Nigerian born and bred in Lagos…

Latest Posts

Literary Blogging 101: The Literary Blogging Community 12th February 2019
Literary Discussion: Required Reading in Schools 5th February 2019
Blog Tour: Healing his Medic by Nana Prah 5th February 2019
My Anticipated Book Releases, February 2019. 3rd February 2019
Book Review: Shango by James R. Curtis 29th January 2019

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In Defense of Trashy Romance on Northern Plunder
First Book Mail! on AMETHYST SAW
My Bookstagramming process + H… on Word Wonders
Blog Tour: Gwenna the Welsh Co… on Reads & Reels
Dear Rachel Maddow Review on How Useful It Is

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Currently Reading » Indigo by Molara Wood. Many short stories that had me smiling and thinking why did people say the book is just there, yes there are some short stories in it I really couldn’t care for but it’s an enjoyable read so far and I’ll be done with it ASAP! » @Something__Bookish is hosting a giveaway and this is my entry ♥️ Swipe Left to see what I would win. » What book(s) made me fall in love with reading? And why? » I fell in love with reading in February of 2006, lol it’s funny how it’s February again now. I was in an accident that fractured my ankle and I couldn’t play or move around like I normally did at school, so my head mistress told me to go to library and take up reading and I never stopped, but the books that really made me fall in love with reading were the Harry Potter Books, I spent 2006 catching up with every book in the series, and when Deathly Hallows got released I made sure my mum and I went to the bookstore to immediately get it and I devoured it in 2-days 🥰, then there were R.L. Stine Goosebumps books, I really loved the Give Yourself Goosebumps series and finally Jacqueline Wilson books.

ISSA GIVEAWAY! Winner is @omolol_a 💃🏾 ♥️ It wouldn’t be right if I launched a store @bookgloves and not do a giveaway of the product, and I put this giveaway to vote and quite a number of you voted YES, there wasn’t a single NO for the first time in the history of me making a poll on my Insta Story! ♥️ RULES: » Open to people in Nigeria Only. » Must be 18 years of age to enter. » No spam/giveaway accounts. » Giveaway ends on the 12th of February. ♥️ HOW TO ENTER: » Follow me » Follow @BookGloves » Like this photo » Share giveaway on your story & tag me so I’ll see. » Tag 3 other friends that will be interested. ♥️ ITEM: » Serenity, Book Sleeve (Book Protector) ♥️ DISCLAIMER: Not associated or affiliated with Instagram.

Guess who has done something entirely new in 2019? Your girl 💃🏾 » You guys! For the first time in history, I finished listening to an audiobook! I'm so proud and happy I did that. I can proudly say "Audiobook? Been there, done that and dusted." The audio book in question is Shango by James R. Curtis » I really didn't know what to expect going into this book, all I saw was Shango and I was immediately captivated, I even thought "oh this will be some marvellous West African book to read!" Because I love books that deal with African deities. Imagine my surprise when I realised I thought wrong and this book was actually based in the United States and instead of African people, it was filled with Cubans. » It was a wonderful surprise (by the way) because it's always intriguing and educative to see how my culture which I somewhat share with various other races and nations, is perceived. » The story opens up with a gruesome scene, a ceremonial killing, which sounded so barbaric and definitely had to do with the worshipping of gods. Lieutenant Osvaldo Gutierrez was in charge of the investigation, and he immediately had an inkling it was related to rituals by the Santeria, an Afro-Caribbean cult. Knowing he couldn't solve this case on his own, he turned to consulting with experts on the Santeria culture. Professor Henry and Miguel, his Cuban American grad student, who was writing his thesis based on the Santeria culture. This led to a story full of surprises, twists and turns. » I would say more about the plot, but spoilers! Now about the story-telling, I found the voice of the narrator extremely soothing, and easy to follow, the pronunciation of words was very apt, I really loved the authentic feel of the narration, and how he changed his voice in many instances to fit the characters in question had me holding my side in laughter. » The story wasn't bad although in my belief I think the story could have been better and much more fleshed out, nonetheless, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and I think you all should give it a try and get it from @AbantuAudio who have a wide range of diverse audio books.

All I’m in the mood for right now is poetry! 🌾 I don’t think anyone noticed but I’ve been withdrawing from here lately and it’s because I’ve just been feeling off lately. I can’t wait to get my mojo back, but until then, take care! 🍃 If you don’t know I sell very affordable book sleeves @bookgloves and right now it’s cheaper, so get yourself one before it’s too late ☺️ 🌾 How’s January been for you? It was fast in my opinion for the first time in years!

It’s all about the new new 💁🏾‍♀️ » All the books featured in this image are books given to me this month all by different wonderful people and I’m ever so thankful, who needs to win giveaways when I have many wonderful people in my life right? I would like to say I’m so glad I haven’t spent money on physical books this month but the book in @something__bookish cart would call me 🤥 » You guys have to get excited and happy! I’m finally launching an affordable book sleeves biz for book lovers in Nigeria @BookGloves and pre-ordering starts tomorrow! So be ready to support your girl 🥰 » I’m overwhelmed but I believe I’ve got this! Happy reading 💛 » #bookgloves

I failed at this, but I tried to be creative about an impromptu Bookish Crime Set. Because I just finished reading this book and I can’t not talk about it. 🔪 5 Murdering Stars! 🔪 Two Can Keep a Secret if One of Them is Dead! I’ve been humming Secret by The Pierces all day, cause it’s the full length song that became the Pretty Little Liars theme song, so fitting and the secrets in this book 🤯 🔪 Omg you guys I’m in love with Karen M. McManus she blew me away with this tale! I’m as suspicious as the female mc (main character) Ellery and I can’t wait to also grow my Ann Rule books collection! 🔪 And I was once curious about In Cold Blood, but I know I won’t enjoy reading the book not my kind of true crime, one remarkable thing about In Cold Blood is that the Harper Lee, was part of the people who helped with getting the facts in the book. 🔪 Back to the story and this review I suspected the killer almost immediately because I got a “Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty” vibe at the start and the killer is always closer than you think and I’ve learnt to always suspect everyone. See I’m as suspicious as Ellery and I called it on some things but oh my gosh Karen I didn’t see it coming. Gosh Karen knows how to build the suspense and drive the narrative, really getting me invested and exploring crime theorises with Ellery who is definitely my spirit animal. 🔪 I was really cracking my brain to figure out what the connection was. Gosh I want to say more but spoilers, because something at the end, really also gave me more insight because of how much true crime documentaries I watch in my free time, that fits the MO of killers who kill in such ways and anyways one of the reason the killer targeted so so and so (Sorry no spoilers argh!) If you read this book come back and talk to me please! 🔪 This was just tooo good for my crime loving self and now I’m adding @writerkmc to my Auto-Read Authors List!!!! 🔪 I can’t wait for her next book. Her brain is amazing ☠️

I’m in love with this picture 🙈

Happy New Year 🥳 We’re already on day 8 of January, 52 more days to come 😆 🧨 You know when you’ve been anticipating a read and all you hear about it are good things from people you have come to trust and you pick it up to read and you’re like why in the name of God are they really hyping this book? That’s how I feel about The Belles. It shouldn’t have been my first read of the year because now I’ll always remember how it didn’t blow me away. 🧨 The characters all seem shallow to me. I get the story is all about being beautiful but like it was just a hard miss and the story didn’t pan out or fit together the way it should have, it was clunky in many areas. Camellia was an average MC to me. I hated how predictable everything was. I knew Auguste was shady from the onset, like why was he always popping up and getting away with what he did and why is he really that nice? Fake rat. I already know he’s getting a redeeming arc, saying the evil princess Sophia set him up. And I also knew Remy would be the best guy (the only character I like apart from Edelweiss) I am calling it now, the series will progress with Remy and Camellia finding love and Auguste will cause havoc and Camellia will be as gullible as ever. Creating the unnecessary love triangle. I love love triangles where everyone ends up being in love with each other and they become a triad 🥰 🧨 Why is the story so long? With it being so long, I would think the concept of the world and their special brand of power would be explained properly but instead we’re given crumbs in the name of suspense. The world just seems off to me with very terrible and selfish people living in it. 🧨 Like The Belles are powerful beings, why can’t they all band together and get rid of the oppression they are facing? The way they are treated is like they are slaves and why does their wonderful god allow them to be treated this way? They should be revered, yet they are being treated the exact opposite, like grow backbones, even if you’re flowers 🙄 that’s why I love Edelweiss. 🧨 I’m reading the next book obviously, I’m already invested 😤 I can be annoyed as hell but doesn’t mean the story was completely bad 🌚

💛 Made it to No. 1 of 2018 ✨ Mad respect for this book! It’s so gripping, I can’t wait to reread it in 2019. It will even be more profound the second time around 🥰 ✨ What about you? Do you have a best book of the year? ✨ @BookishSpecies Festive Bookstagram Challenge

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