Literary Blogging 101: Writing Book Reviews

26th November 201822nd May 2021 Lara T. Kareem6 Comments

Introduction

A book review should be full with nothing but the reader’s honest opinion. Doesn’t matter if you bought the book, borrowed it or got it from the author or publisher. Every writer has a voice, the voice is what determines a review because if a review is honest, it comes from the heart. It’s the writing of our reading experience, the good, bad and ugly.

A review can start off with us loving a book and at the end of writing it, we come to the realization we actually hated the book or vice versa. That is to say, reviews are unique and we should never think we always have to stick to a certain required template or format.Read More »

Book Review: A Wedding One Christmas by Therese Beharrie

1st November 201829th December 2018 Lara T. KareemLeave a comment

Title – A Wedding One Christmas

Author – Therese Beharrie

Publication – November 19th, 2018.

Publisher – Carina Press

Genre – Contemporary Romance

Of all the weddings in all the world, Angie Roux had to be mistaken for a bridesmaid in this one.

Caledon, South Africa, is supposed to be just a stop on the way to Christmas in Cape Town, part of Angie’s long-avoided homecoming. She never expected to star in a bizarre comedy of errors, but here she is: convincing a handsome stranger to be her fake boyfriend for the day.

Ezra Johnson, the handsome stranger in question, turns out to be a pleasant distraction from both the wedding and thoughts of her first family Christmas without her father. And he seems to loathe weddings just as much as she does. He’s the perfect temporary companion.

But a lot can happen in twenty-four hours. Including a connection so strong it tempts them both into thinking of something more permanent…

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 70,000 words

Book Review: Smile, my Beloved Country by Emeka Onwusorom

8th October 201829th December 2018 Lara T. KareemLeave a comment

Title – Smile, my Beloved Country

Author – Emeka Onwusorom

Publication – September 2018.

Publisher – Origami, Parrésia Publishers Ltd.

Genre – Fiction, Politics.

Smile, my Beloved Country is the story of a young Nigerian, Ayo Musa Okeke, who on a visit to Nigeria witnesses the assassination of a presidential candidate, Boni Konida, during a transition to civil rule programme. Within a broken country where civic obligations are ignored as corruption runs rampant, suspicions begin to point to Ayo who is saved by the friendship of a conscientious cop. From his base in New York where he is a tenured Agricultural Science professor, Ayo unwittingly sets in motion events that will lead him to face off the ruthless Chief Wewe Jumanji in an electoral battle for Aso Rock and Nigeria’s future.

Smile my Beloved Country, is a book with big dreams when it comes to Nigeria. It’s a book which aim is to inspire hope as well as paint a different picture about how Nigeria should be as it also notes many of the issues politics in present Nigeria has.Read More »

Book Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

8th August 201824th September 2018 Lara T. Kareem8 Comments

Title – Sadie

Author – Courtney Summers

Publication – September 4th, 2018.

Publisher – Wednesday Books

Genres – Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery & Thriller.

Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice and hits the road following a few meagre clues to find him.

When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.

Book Review

[BOOK REVIEW THEME]

ANNOUNCER: Book Review is brought to you by Lara Kareem, sponsored by Netgalley & Wednesday Books, a Macmillian Publishers Imprint.

LARA KAREEM: And it begins, as so many stories do, with a dead girl. Such a gripping line don’t you agree, right off the bats after I read those words, I immediately became intrigued and anticipated what was to come.Read More »

Book Review: Scattered Constellations by Ankita Singh

23rd July 201824th September 2018 Lara T. Kareem1 Comment

Title – Scattered Constellations

Author – Ankita Singh

Genre – Poetry

Published – July 31st, 2018.

Words tumble out, with no pause;
From the pen, my anelace,
That I hold so graciously,
(In awe of its majesty, its power)
In my hand.

They form thoughts, hopes and musings;
Reflect my soul, my entire being,
And spread across the page,
Like scattered constellations
Across the sky.

(Scattered Constellations is a YA Free Verse Poetry collection.)