176 episodes

Avid reader, big book lover. I love recommending books, and l never spoil the ending.

Being Bookish Raye

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 19 Ratings

Avid reader, big book lover. I love recommending books, and l never spoil the ending.

    A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

    A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

    A compelling combination of Six of Crows and Peaky Blinders is the way that book promoters have been selling the third novel by American author Hafsah Faizal. As someone who has never seen Peaky Blinders, but loved Six of Crows (see my review of that from 2021), does this claim actually ring true?
    Enter White Roaring, a town that is full of intrigue and insurrection. A town under the tyrannical rule of the mysterious Ram and meet Arthie and Jin Casimir, proprietors of Spindrift, a charming tea room with a secret. All is not as it seems on the surface, and that becomes much clearer when you realise that Arthie is a schemer, going after what she wants whatever the cost...and right now what she wants is in the Athereum; a ledger that can help her and others to take down the powers that rule so unfairly...but will they succeed?
    Before I read this book I had heard so much about it, the reviews are mixed, so which side of the track will mine fall? And more importantly...I won't spoil it to reveal my thoughts!
    Featured Episodes
    Six of Crows

    • 26 min
    The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

    The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

    This one book is not like the others...and that is certainly true where The Secret Adversary is concerned. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Agatha Christie created and wrote about a lot of different characters, though her most well-known and most beloved are an elderly woman who loves to knit and observe and a rotund Belgian who knows and sees everything!
    In 1922, Christie wrote about Tommy Beresford and his friend Tuppence Cowley for the first time. Though they would only appear in a few books, their tales are very different from others that she wrote...in fact, I would go so far as to say that they are more spy novels than mysteries! But that's just me...So, join me this week on my first adventure with the Young Adventurers Ltd and see what kind of trouble they get into, and whether I like it or not!
    Featured episodes
    Cosy Crime Playlist

    Featured links
    Spybrary's recommended spy novels
    Raye on YouTube

    • 24 min
    Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

    Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

    Just over a year ago I reviewed a fantasy novel by a debut author, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. That book was Godkiller, and as a treat to myself for the end of the month I picked up the sequel, and second book in a trilogy titled Fallen Gods. That second book is called Sunbringer and as well as answering the question 'what happened to everyone after that cliffhanger?' the book also gives us further insight into the battles being fought across the kingdom of Middren. I loved returning to Hannah Kaner's carefully built world, and the reunion with Kissen, Inara, Skedi and Elogast was a very welcome one.
    As ever I am not going to spoil anything about the book I am reviewing, but I would love you to join me on my journey to reacquaint myself with old fantasy friends and find out more about Sunbringer.
    Featured episodes
    Godkiller
    Farewell to 2023
    Best and Worst (Reads) of 2023 (YouTube)

    • 28 min
    Devil's Delight by MC Beaton and RW Green

    Devil's Delight by MC Beaton and RW Green

    I know, I know, I said that I would probably be staying away from Agatha Raisin for a while, but I was trying to find something on my bedside table and this book just happened to be there. So join me and Agatha and her reliable crew in Carsely as she attempts to solve the mystery of a body that disappeared, and discover what connection it has with ice cream, a naturist society and drug smuggling...it's a doozy, but did it impress me? Remember, there will be no spoilers, I am not going to tell you whodunnit and I certainly won't be revealing who gets to go home with Agatha at the end of the night, though I have my preferences!
    Featured episodes
    Cosy Crime Playlist

    Episode Links
    Being Bookish on YouTube

    • 30 min
    The Changeover by Margaret Mahy

    The Changeover by Margaret Mahy

    The Changeover was first published in 1984 so while I am celebrating a milestone, it's not far behind. As I have already established while talking about other 1980s YA novels, these were few and far between during that era. The happy medium where books were written with more grown-up themes targeting an audience that was going through changes was incredibly rare. Sure, we had Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High and the Sweet Dreams series, but really, that was it. The Changeover was an original, probably would be classified as a Romantasy and it's the first book I became obsessed with. A story of growth and change, of realisations and first loves, loss, and awakening. I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I would love if this made you want to give it a chance.
    As ever, this episode is spoiler-free, though it was hard to keep it that way!
    Featured episodes
    Mel
    Easy Connections and Easy Freedom

    • 39 min
    Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton

    Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton

    Every once in a while you have to try something new, but perhaps now isn't exactly the time. I guess that's why, this week, on the recommendation of a reviewer on YouTube, I picked up the first book in the Hamish Macbeth series. If you are a fan of 1990s BBC mysteries then you may be familiar with the series (as I was), but this isn't exactly that. While you're transported to the beautiful Highland village of Lochdubh (pronounced Lochdoo) and you meet the fantastic and laid-back Hamish Macbeth, other similarities are few and far between. However, if you love a cosy mystery and want something with beautiful scenery then this might be just what you're looking for. As with every episode, I am not going to spoil the ending, reveal whodunnit or why...I am going to give you a nice in-depth look into the story itself...
    Featured Episodes
    The cosy crime playlist
    Episode Links
    Being Bookish YouTube

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
19 Ratings

19 Ratings

Ovnio ,

A portable book club!

I’ll take all the help I can get navigating the avalanche of content when it comes to reading. Rate is an articulate guide through the books (and movies!) she covers on her show, and you’re bound to discover a new favorite, or be inspired to revisit an old one, if you listen long enough.

GFAMike ,

Inspired me

I think the highest honor I can give is that I listened to an episode on a movie I’ve never seen and I was inspired to see the movie right after! Raye is fantastic! Plus the movies/books/everything she covers is so varied and unique compared to everything else out there. Highly recommend this show!

- Game For A Movie

ODPH607 ,

Brew a cup & hit play!

Love this podcast! Raye always delivers a great episode of conversation & insight that keeps you engaged from start to finish! It's a must listen so quit delaying. Hit play now! - #ODPH

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