The Dead Are Gods by Eirinie Carson | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an ebook copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

The Dead Are Gods by Eirinie Carson

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Melville House 

Publication date: 13th April 2023

Blurb:

After an unexpected phone call on an early morning in 2018, writer and model Eirinie Carson learned of her best friend Larissa's death. 

In the wake of her shock, Eirinie attempts to make sense of the events leading up to Larissa's death and uncovers startling secrets about her life in the process. 

THE DEAD ARE GODS is Eirinie's striking, intimate, and profoundly moving depiction of life after a sudden loss. Amid navigating moments of intense grief, Eirinie is overwhelmed by her love for Larissa. She finds power in pulling moments of joy from the depths of her emotion. 

Eirinie's portrayal of what love feels like after death bursts from the page alongside a timely, honest, and personal exploration of Black love and Black life. Perhaps, Eirinie proposes, 'The only way out is through.'

Review:

This is an absolutely gorgeous book that I read in near enough one sitting.

In 2018, Eirinie receives a call to say that her best friend Larissa has died. As soon as I started reading I instantly fell in love with Eirinie's writing style and although the subject is a hard one, it was very easy to read. Grief is explored so well with a lot of raw honesty surrounding feelings, how to cope and remembering.

I adored reading about Eirinie and Larissa's friendship and from the personality descriptions to music that they enjoyed, I truthfully felt like I'd love to have been friends with them too.

Not only does it explore grief and the loss of a best friend who was like a sister, you also have the focus on Black life and love.

The transcripts between Eirinie and Larissa peppered between the chapters were a lovely addition. The Dead Are Gods is a beautiful book that I will be thinking about for a really long time.

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A massive thank you to Melville House for having me on the blog tour. You can find information about the other bloggers on the tour in the graphic below.

Sleeping With A Psychopath by Carolyn Woods | Book Review

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Sleeping With A Psychopath by Carolyn Woods

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: HarperElement

Publication date: 29th April 2021

Blurb:

Carolyn Woods was living happily in a quiet Cotswolds village when an attractive stranger abruptly arrived in her life.

Introducing himself as Mark Conway, he exuded confidence and to her surprise Carolyn quickly became captivated by this mysterious man. A rich Swiss banker (who later confessed to being a spy), he offered Carolyn companionship and introduced her to an exciting, glamorous world.

In fact, some things were so astonishing she began to question her new lover. Was all as it seemed?

The truth was even harder to believe. For a start, his real name was Mark Acklom, he was wanted by Interpol, and he was rich but for one reason only…

A true-crime story that reads like a thriller, Sleeping with a Psychopath is a blow-by-blow account of the power of manipulation and a testament to the human will to survive.

Review:

I, like the majority of people these days, love anything to do with true crime. I was vaguely familiar with Carolyn's story so I was interested to hear the intricate details surrounding what happened.

Divorcée Carolyn Woods met Mark Conway (real name Mark Acklom) and he quickly set his sights on her. He duped her into a whirlwind relationship, managing to get her to transfer all of her savings to him and being very clever whilst doing so.

When I hear stories like this in the news, I am always confused as to why these women put their trust into men like this and Carolyn explains exactly how everything transpired. She seems like a very headstrong and independent woman at the start but, I felt, barely recognisable by the end. Mark was great at theatrics and made everything so believable.

Not only did he take Carolyn's savings, leaving her with nothing, he destroyed relationships and left her reaping the consequences for years afterwards. I am so happy that she is living a better life now but can't believe that Mark will be free soon and clearly he will continue on!

And Away... by Bob Mortimer | Book Review

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And Away... by Bob Mortimer

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Publication date: 26th May 2022

Blurb: 

Bob Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The episode unnerved him, but forced him to reflect on his life so far. This is the framework for his hilarious and moving memoir, And Away…

Although his childhood in Middlesbrough was normal on the surface, it was tinged by the loss of his dad, and his own various misadventures (now infamous from his appearances on Would I Lie to You?), from burning down the family home to starting a short-lived punk band called Dog Dirt. As an adult, he trained as a solicitor and moved to London. Though he was doing pretty well (the South London Press once crowned him ‘The Cockroach King’ after a successful verdict), a chance encounter in a pub in the 1980s with a young comedian going by the name Vic Reeves set his life on a different track. And now, six years on, the heart condition that once threatened his career has instead led to new success on BBC2’s Gone Fishing.

Review:

This is a very easy five star read for me. 

Bob Mortimer writes about life as a young boy right up to present day including the passing of his father, his work as a solicitor, his teenage friendships, how he met Jim Moir and the subsequent comedy shows they created and starred in.

I have been a massive Bob Mortimer fan since I was probably around 6 years old. I remember growing up watching The Smell Of Reeves and Mortimer and Shooting Stars with my dad. Mulligan & O'Hare and The Stotts hold a special place in my heart.

Being a comedian, I expected this book to be very funny and it being read by Bob in the audiobook version increased the hilarity. There were a few occasions when I had to stop myself from laughing like an idiot whilst listening on my walk to work. Notably, Mortimer singing the song Suits Me Fine from his short lived punk band days (Dog Dirt is a fantastic name if you ask me) and whenever he did Donald Stott's voice. That gets me every time.

Of course, being a life story, he writes about the sadder times too such as his depression at university and his fear when his health worsened and required an operation.

I genuinely loved hearing more about his life, especially in the solicitor days and also his feelings towards Jim are very moving. Mortimer ends the books with some lovely advice he wants to pass onto his sons, two of which are my absolute favourites and I will share below.

"Always walk kerbside when with a lady."

"A home should be full of books"

Thanks Bob, I will have a cappuchoochoo. Ciao!