Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Eva Ibbotson'snovel The Secret of Platform 13. Click the image to find the book The book was initially published in 1994. It is 162 pages long (at least that's how many my ebook copy has). The PlotThe plot centres on a disused platform at King’s Cross in London. Every nine years, a secret doorway, known as “the gump,” opens for nine days, connecting the mundane world to a magical island inhabited by mermaids, ogres, wizards, and other fantastical creatures.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. It's Wednesday, and it's time for my sixth offering in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. You can check out this year's list of topics here if you'd like to join in, and you can read other people's thoughts about this topic here. My Favourite Song Lyrics Today’s topic had me thinking very hard because there are so many songs I love that mean a lot to me—songs that have touched me emotionally or songs that were the soundtrack to important memories.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m sharing another poem with you today. I hope you enjoy it. Twisted Sometimes I can make things up,While I lie awake in bed—Stories that never happened,Things that were never said. I can reinvent solid facts—twisting truths to my own will,Taking the sweetest moments,and making them bitter pills. I can twist my thoughts with talent,Coat my memories in blood—But I always twist the good to badNever the bad to good. Thank you, as ever, for reading my words. Until next time, George © 2026 GLT

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Australian author Holden Sheppard’s Invisible Boys. Click the image to find the book Invisible Boys was released in 2019 by Fremantle Press and is 344 pages long. The PlotThe book tells the story of three closeted teenagers, whose lives are thrown into turmoil after an anonymous gay hook-up is exposed in their town. The revelation acts as a catalyst, forcing each boy to confront their identity, fears, and the suffocating expectations placed on them by family, peers, and the broader community.

Hi everyone! I hope you're doing well. It's Wednesday, and that means it is once again time for the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like, you can check out the list of topics for this year here, and you can see what other people said about today's topic here. Will You Watch the Super Bowl? Why or Why Not? The quick answer to this is “No.” As many of you who read my posts regularly will no doubt have gleaned… I am not a sporty person at all.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m sharing some of the weirdest writing advice I’ve heard over the years. The Weirdest Writing Advice I’ve Heard Writing advice is everywhere. From "write every day" to "show, don’t tell," there’s no shortage of well-meaning guidance floating around—much of it on this website, even. But amid the usual tips out there, there's some rather... peculiar advice that leaves you scratching your head at first but could spark something surprising if you try them. Over the years, I’ve collected my fair share of oddball writing tips, sometimes from mentors, sometimes from strangers on the internet.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I’m sharing my review of A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Click the image to find the book A Short History of Nearly Everything was published in 2003 by Doubleday and is 560 pages long. What It’s AboutA Short History of Nearly Everything is a science book that explores everything from the origins of the cosmos and the structure of atoms to the formation of Earth and the rise of life.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, which can only mean it’s time for my next post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you’d like to participate in the challenge, you can check out the list of topics for 2026 here. If you'd like to read what others have written on today's topic, here. Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time Practical MagicI love this book. It tells the story of the Owens family (a family of witches) and the curse that ensures the women (and in later books, men) of the family never find a happily ever after with their true love.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m exploring the age-old writing advice “Write what you know”. Writing What You Know vs. Writing What You Don’t “Write what you know." It’s a comforting thought—that our own lives, unique experiences, and our interests can blossom into great stories. But should we only write what we know? What about exploring the unknown? Writing about something entirely outside your personal experience, stepping into unfamiliar shoes and creating something from scratch? Let’s delve a little deeper! Why Writing What You Know Matters The expression "write what you know" has persisted for a good reason.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Gerald Durrell’s Memoir, My Family and Other Animals. Click the image to find the book My Family and Other Animals was initially released in 1956. It is 300 pages long and was published by Rupert Hart-Davis. The PlotThis memoir by the renowned naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell recounts his childhood experiences growing up on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s. The book is a joyful blend of family comedy and natural history, chronicling both his love of the island’s wildlife and the antics of his eccentric family.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. It's time for the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. You can find the list of topics for 2026 here if you'd like to take part, or you can read what others are saying about today's topic here. Humorous Book Titles This was a tough one! I ran through my mind-Rolodex of books I’ve read over the years, and the following is what I came up with. The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman…

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today, I’m sharing another poem. I hope you enjoy it. Cold Hearts Cold hearts make for stony thoughts—But stone can break,Crumbling to ruble that crunches underfoot. Cold hearts melt slowly in the warmth of day—But melt they do,Small puddles pooling in a ribcage. Cold hearts freeze from within, ice spreads outward—But fire can thaw;A touch can ignite a flame within, bringing a heart to life again! Thank you, as always, for stopping by to read my words! Until next time, George © 2026 GLT

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of the lovely, positivity-infused book, The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha. Click the image to find the book The Book of Awesome was released by G.P. Putnam's Sons. It is 315 pages long and was released in 2010. What’s It AboutThe book is based on a hit blog titled "1000 Awesome Things". It is a wonderful tribute to the tiny, everyday victories that too often go unnoticed in our fast-paced, worry-soaked world.

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. It's Wednesday, which means it's time for the next post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by long and short reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, then you can find the list of topics for 2026 here. Or, if you're interested, you can read what others thought about this week's topic here. The First TV Show I Remember Watching The very first thing that came to mind when I read this week's prompt was a cartoon that aired in the early '90s called Sharky and George.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, carrying on from last week’s post, I’m going to delve a little deeper into point of view. How to Write Multiple POVs in Fiction What Are Multiple POVs?Using multiple points of view (POV) means relaying your story from the viewpoint of multiple characters. Each POV provides a unique perspective on events, emotions, and conflicts. You might have two, three, or even a handful of POV characters, each with their own voice, goals, and personal journey. Why Use Multiple POVs?

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Hesket: A Norfolk Haunting by Sara Bayat. Click the image to find the book Hesket: A Norfolk Haunting will be published on 5 March 2026, by Corsair and is 224 pages long. The PlotSet in a quiet Norfolk village with a buried history of witch trials, the novel turns on a modern planning decision: new building works in the village woods. As development begins—despite local protests—odd, unsettling phenomena start to ripple through everyday life, and the tight-knit community begins to fray.

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. It's a new year, and the first week in a brand new year of Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge posts hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, then you can find the list of topics for 2026 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, then you can find them here. New Books I'm Looking Forward to This Year Happy New Year, everyone! 2026! Wasn't the millennium like two years ago? I remember it so clearly.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m exploring point of view (POV) and perspective. Point of View And Perspective: Are They The Same? Some writers use the terms point of view and perspective interchangeably, but they aren't quite the same thing. Let’s break it down. What is Point of View (POV)? Point of View refers to which of your characters is telling your story and how it’s being told. There are three primary choices when it comes to Point of View: First-Person: Told from the narrator’s perspective: “I”/“me.”

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Cher: The Memoir: Part One by… well, Cher. Click the image to find the book Cher: The Memoir: Part One was published in November 2024 by Harper Collins and is 413 pages long. What’s it AboutThis is the first instalment of two telling the pop icon Cher's life story, and taking readers from her early years through the seismic cultural shifts of the 1960s and into the years of her burgeoning superstardom.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well! Today, I thought I'd share some of my favourite animated Christmas-themed films with you! I wonder if your favourites are on the list. One of my favourite things to do during the holidays is to sit down all cosy with a hot drink to watch Christmas films—and some of my favourites are animated films from my childhood—and some more recent ones! So, without further ado, here are: 10 of My Favourite Christmas Animated Films Arthur ChristmasOn Christmas Eve, Father Christmas' fleet‑style sleigh called the S-1, led by his businesslike son Steve, is delivering gifts worldwide.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m sharing another poem with you today, and I hope you enjoy it! Another Year Another year over, another begun,The wintery gloom will make way for sun;Soon there’ll be flowers where now there are none—The start of the new—the old is now done. Another new year, another new me,I wonder, this year, how happy I’ll be.There are no certainties, no guarantees;I’ll have to be hopeful—to just wait and see. Another beginning, another go around;In this freshness—this newness, hope is found.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I'm reviewing M. C. Beaton’s short story Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble. Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble was initially published in 2012 by C & R Crime and is 35 pages long. The PlotSet in the charming Cotswold village of Carsely, the story revolves around Agatha's decision to host a Christmas lunch for a handful of Carsely’s oldest residents. All goes as well as you'd expect for an Agatha Raisin story until it’s time to bring out the Christmas pudding—homemade by Agatha and her best friend, Roy.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, since it’s the season for it, I thought I’d share with you a selection of my favourite Christmas-themed horror films. I love horror films, and I love Christmas—and together, they make the perfect form of entertainment for the holiday season. There’s always been something about Christmas and the entire winter season that lends itself to the telling of scary stories. Perhaps it’s the darker nights, or maybe it's a little bit of an antidote to the constant (often forced) cheer of the holiday season.

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well! I’m sharing another festive poem with you today, and I hope you enjoy it. Paper Angel High above the sturdy pine,In silent, watchful grace,Sits a Christmas angel,A smile drawn upon her face. Created by a loving hand,Of the simplest of things—Like paper, card, and crayons,With gold foil around her wings. She glows among the fairy lights,A lovely, festive vision,A sign of love from those below,Who sit watching television. For many years, she’s stood sentry,

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I am sharing my review of Alastair Heim's How the Grinch Lost Christmas, the follow-up to Dr Seuss' classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. How the Grinch Lost Christmas was published in 2023 by Random House and is 40 pages long. The PlotIn this story, we meet back up with the Grinch in happier times. He’s fully embraced the Whos and even participates wholeheartedly in their beloved traditions. But in a classic Grinch-like twist, he becomes overly invested in impressing his new community.