James McKay
@jrmckay.bsky.social
32-year-old NHS administrator by day, aspiring bookseller and publisher. Currently diving into a BA in English Literature with the Open University while rekindling my once-fiery love affair with reading.Stay tuned for book reviews and bookish ramblings
Book 15 of 2025:Twelfth Night is a playful yet poignant exploration of love, identity, and the blur between reality and performance. The wit sparkles, and themes feel modern, but pacing issues and caricatured moments hold it back. Still, it’s a vibrant, layered classic worth revisiting. 4 stars.
January 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Book 15 of 2025:Twelfth Night is a playful yet poignant exploration of love, identity, and the blur between reality and performance. The wit sparkles, and themes feel modern, but pacing issues and caricatured moments hold it back. Still, it’s a vibrant, layered classic worth revisiting. 4 stars.
Book 14 of 2025: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a whimsical mix of romance, chaos, and humour, with Shakespeare’s lyrical language drawing you into its enchanted world. The characters are compelling, though the pacing can feel chaotic, and some tropes predictable. A playful, poignant classic. 4 stars.
January 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Book 14 of 2025: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a whimsical mix of romance, chaos, and humour, with Shakespeare’s lyrical language drawing you into its enchanted world. The characters are compelling, though the pacing can feel chaotic, and some tropes predictable. A playful, poignant classic. 4 stars.
Book 13 of 2025: Great Expectations showcases Dickens talent for vivid characters and social critique, but its pacing drags, the prose is overly elaborate, and the sentimentality is forced. Though rich and thematically ambitious, it’s inconsistent and underwhelming. A respectable but flawed 2.75/5.
January 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Book 13 of 2025: Great Expectations showcases Dickens talent for vivid characters and social critique, but its pacing drags, the prose is overly elaborate, and the sentimentality is forced. Though rich and thematically ambitious, it’s inconsistent and underwhelming. A respectable but flawed 2.75/5.
Book 12 of 2025: Jane Eyre is a powerful, atmospheric tale with a fiercely compelling heroine. The prose is lush, the gothic vibes are gripping, and its themes of feel timeless. While the pacing drags in places and it edges into melodrama, it’s a richly rewarding classic. 4 stars.
January 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Book 12 of 2025: Jane Eyre is a powerful, atmospheric tale with a fiercely compelling heroine. The prose is lush, the gothic vibes are gripping, and its themes of feel timeless. While the pacing drags in places and it edges into melodrama, it’s a richly rewarding classic. 4 stars.
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca Reilly
January 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca Reilly
Book 11 of 2025: Greta and Valdin is a deeply emotional exploration of love and self-discovery. The characters are complex and relatable, with lyrical prose and a steady pace. While occasionally slow and introspective, it offers a mature, thoughtful take on relationships. A solid 4/5 stars.
January 2, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Book 11 of 2025: Greta and Valdin is a deeply emotional exploration of love and self-discovery. The characters are complex and relatable, with lyrical prose and a steady pace. While occasionally slow and introspective, it offers a mature, thoughtful take on relationships. A solid 4/5 stars.
Book 10 of 2025: Your Money or Your Life offers an introspective approach to money, encouraging readers to reevaluate how they spend their time and resources. While insightful and empowering, its idealism can feel out of reach for many, making it both inspiring and impractical at times. 3.75/5.
January 2, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Book 10 of 2025: Your Money or Your Life offers an introspective approach to money, encouraging readers to reevaluate how they spend their time and resources. While insightful and empowering, its idealism can feel out of reach for many, making it both inspiring and impractical at times. 3.75/5.
Book 9 of 2025: How to Take Smart Notes is a thoughtful exploration of the Zettelkasten method, offering a guide to effective note-taking. While the book presents insights and encourages intentional thinking, its theoretical focus and dense tone make it challenging to apply, earning 3.75 stars.
January 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Book 9 of 2025: How to Take Smart Notes is a thoughtful exploration of the Zettelkasten method, offering a guide to effective note-taking. While the book presents insights and encourages intentional thinking, its theoretical focus and dense tone make it challenging to apply, earning 3.75 stars.