Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton

Book 13 of 2023

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Here’s why

This was my first ever audiobook and I really enjoyed it! I love the wizarding world and it was fun to get to know Tom better, and not just Draco.

Tom Felton has been acting since he was young: starting in some commercials, a movie called The Borrowers, and eventually landing a role as Draco Malfoy in The Harry Potter series. Little did he know how that role would change his life forever – he hadn’t even read the books when he auditioned. Now, in his early 30’s, Tom reflects on his life and the journey he has gone through with his family, friends, career, and bouts of alcoholism/depression. Through this life story, Tom takes us along for the ride as we meet his family, friends, and the people who he has worked with and done life with who have shaped him into the man he is today. A very open, thoughtful, caring, and hilarious read that really shows how down to earth this big star truly is.

***

My sister recommended this read to my husband and I read/listen to the book because Tom himself is the narrator and she said she really enjoyed listening to him talk/read/tell these stories in his own voice. And I definitely agree it was very cool and made him come to life in a new way.

I have never been a massive Draco/Tom fan like my sister, who has writen an entire fan fiction for Dramione (Draco and Hermione) *sorry to out ya sis ;)* but I thought it would be interesting to get to know him a little more. He had a very unique perspective on the HP world, actors, and how it didn’t seem to affect him nearly as strongly as the main trio in their everyday lives. He talks a lot about his life in general and tells funny – and serious – stories openly and honestly, not shying away from a moment of rebellion or if he got in trouble on set!

I am giving this book 4.5 Stars because it took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it as well as how detailed he told his story. He really laid out a full birth-now journey, not just about being a “wizard.” I feel like I have a better appreciation for him now than I had before, and can see him in a new way. I am docking 0.5 stars because the audio was not mixed which bothered me, but again, hearing him tell his own stories (adding a chuckle or sigh here or there remembering the story/moment he was recounting) was the addition that made him come more to life and seem like a regular human than if someone else was reading the stories for him.

If you had read this book, or have other audio book autobiographies you think I would enjoy, leave your suggestions in the comments below!

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Autobiography/Memoir/Harry Potter

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Book 12 of 2023

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Here’s why

This is my third Grady Hendrix novel and I was just as freaked out with this story as I have been with his other two!

Louise’s parents have passed away suddenly in a car accident. Flying across the country from San Francisco to Charleston, and having to leave her daughter, Poppy, behind for two weeks to take care of their funeral, will, and house is not something she is ready to deal with.On top of that, she also has to confront and try to control with her younger brother, Mark, who has been a trouble spot for their family for years. But Mark is not the only thing she will have to face – there’s something else their parents left in the house besides their belongings, and it’s not something to underestimate.

***

I had no idea what all this book was going to entail before buying and reading it. I have begun to trust Grady Hendrix as an author and usually when an author reaches that level for me, I automatically assume I will own/read their new releases regardless.

This book had an element in it I was not expecting and if I had known it was involved, I might have thought twice about picking it up. This type of story truly gives me the creeps! I tried to avoid reading the book at nighttime because I was so freaked out! It has a few classic horror story/haunted house tropes, but took it to another level. The characters progressively got more complex and felt more realistic, which was enjoyable, since they each are painted a specific way in the beginning on the story. But although this book is about Louise, Mark, and their family, it is also…about Pupkin. (And I‘ll leave it at that.)

I am giving this book 3.5 Stars because it was a solid read. Again, I liked the characters, their development, and the storyline overall, but the main “creep” factor was hard for me to wrap my head around. I can handle horror and haunted things, but this specific element was challenging! I read the first half over the course of a week, but read the second half in one night, so it definitely captured my attention once the characters had a game plan as to try and address the “haunting” at the house. It had twists, turns, and went places I was not expecting AT ALL, which was fun!

If you have not read Grady Hendrix, I would recommend him writing 100%. But I will warn you, if you are reading one of his stories something pretty crazy/unrealistic happens, believe me: in his world, everything is true.

HAPPY READING 🙂

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/the-southern-book-clubs-guide-to-slaying-vampires-by-grady-hendrix/

The Final Girl Support Group review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2021/09/04/the-final-girl-support-group-by-grady-hendrix/

Genre: Horror/Thriller/Suspense/Mystery/Paranormal/Supernatural/Adult Fiction

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Book 11 of 2023

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

I really enjoyed Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane and before I even knew she had written The Half Moon, I thought it sounded interesting!

Malcom is the proud owner of the bar The Half Moon in a small town named Gillam, while his wife, Jess, works as a lawyer in the city. They have known this area their whole lives, which brings benefits and drawbacks from everyone knowing everything about everyone in such a small community. Through their own personal struggles as well as some big setbacks in their marriage, Malcom and Jess are at a turning point. And when a massive winter storm hits, the entire town stands still – trying to recover from the storm, but also giving a “pause” in their day-to-day to reevaluate what they really want and the trajectory of their lives overall.

***

This was my May 2023 Book of the Month selection.

I feel like Mary Beth Keane does something that not a lot of authors do nowadays which is dive deep into character’s lives and not really make the plot the main driving force. The way this story is crafted is non-linear and jumps perspectives throughout a chapter, but somehow it works. Not a lot of authors can do this – and do it successfully – but she can!

I am giving this book 4 Stars because it is a short book but a long read for me because there is a lot of inner dialogue/description and not a ton of conversation so you really do need to read every word/sentence to stay with the flow of the character’s thought process. Also, with the jumping of memories, perspectives, etc. in the span of a page, you don’t want to miss a thing or you will be lost. Although it took me WAAAY to long to finish, I did enjoy it a lot. I started to feel for the characters and understand the nuance of their interactions. There were some plot elements that didn’t feel necessary, but like I said previously, Keane’s main draw isn’t how action-packed her storyline is, but what is happening to the characters and their processes.

If you have not read Ask Again, Yes, I would also recommend that read as well from her. All in all, 2/2 for me for Keane and I will continue to look for her next works and trust they will be just as well-crafted.

HAPPY READING 🙂

Ask Again, Yes review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/ask-again-yes-by-mary-beth-keane/

Genre: Contemporary/Fiction/Drama