Wrap Up: July 2025

Hi everyone

July was a fantastic reading month for me! We were on holiday for two weeks, which meant fewer chores and more time to relax; especially in the evenings. With two daughters (3 and 7) and plenty of fun activities during the day, finding quiet time to read can be a challenge, but I managed to sneak in some pages whenever the girls were playing together. And, of course, once they were in bed and everything was tidied up, it was my time to dive into a book and my husband's time for gaming or watching a series.

Here's what I read in July:

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Yuval Noah Harari: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

- Ilona Andrews: Magic Burns

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

- Christian White: The Nowhere Child

- Terry Pratchett: Carpe Jugulum 

- David Dalglish: A Dance of Mirrors 

- Marie Brennan: The Waking of Angantyr 

- Margaret Atwood: Surfacing 

And there's one book I didn't finish:

- Blake Crouch: Dark Matter 

How was your reading month? Did you find more time to read, or did life get in the way? Do you read more or less when you’re on holiday? I’d love to hear how you balance reading and relaxation!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

Hi everyone

The Wild Robot Protects is the third and last part in Peter Brown's The Wild Robot series.
I got my copy from Bol.

"Life for Roz and the animals on their island is perfect: wild, natural, harmonious. Her son Brightbill has even found a mate! But then, one day an injured seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing toward the island—and soon the animals are forced inland to fight over dwindling resources.
Roz calms and organizes the animals, but the poison tide takes a terrible toll on the island. And when the robot discovers that her new body is waterproof, she marches into the waves and sets out across the ocean, determined to stop the poison tide."

The Wild Robot is a series for children, something my almost 8 year old daughter would read if I had bought it in Dutch (our mother tongue). It's certainly entertaining, the illustrations are wonderful and the story is easy to read and fun. But this particular book was boring. 
The plot is really slow. My mind wandered multiple times while reading it. It takes ages for the islanders to do something, and it takes even longer for Roz to reach her destination. There’s just not much else going on. The tone was also very preachy: Humans = bad. Animals = good. There’s no nuance, and it feels too moralistic for my taste.

So yeah, the first and second book in the series were very enjoyable but this one didn’t live up to them. It’s a shame, because I love the concept and the illustrations, but the execution in this final book just didn’t work for me.

Have you read The Wild Robot Protects? Did you feel the same way, or did you or your kids enjoy it more? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: April 2025

Hi everyone

April was wonderful; we had plenty of sunshine breaking through the typical Belgian grey skies, and I read a ton too! I’m excited to share what I dove into. 

Here's what I read:

- Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

- Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

- Stephen King: The Dark Half 

- Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane 

- Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

- Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

What about you? How was your reading month? Did you find any new favorites or re-read an old beloved book? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!
Helena

Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

Hi everyone

The Wild Robot Escapes is the second book in The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown.
I got my book from Bol.com.

"Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings--but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?"

This book is absolutely charming. The drawings are fun and expressive, adding so much to the story, and the plot is heartwarming in the best way. It left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside; the kind of book that reminds you of the beauty of kindness, friendship, and belonging.

If you’re looking for a sweet, uplifting story for kids (or even for yourself!), this is a perfect choice. It’s gentle, touching, and full of heart, and I loved every moment of Roz’s journey.

Have you read The Wild Robot Escapes? Did it make you feel as cozy and happy as it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Christmas and New Year's Bookhaul

 Hi everyone

The holidays are finally over, and life is slowly getting back to normal; thank goodness! This year, I was spoiled with gifts for Christmas and New Year’s. I received mostly money (which, of course, I’ll be using to buy more books) and three wonderful books.

My parents gifted me with:

- Kristin Hannah: The Great Alone

- Richard Swan: The Justice of Kings

From my husband I received:

- Grant Snider: I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf

And with part of the money I received I bought myself books too:

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

- Rachel Joyce: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Brandon Sanderson: Tress of the Emerald Sea

I’d love to hear if you’ve read any of these books! Did you love them? Should I prioritize one over the others? Or is there another book you think I should read ASAP? Let me know; I’m all ears!

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: December 2024

Hi everyone

December, the last month of the year, the final chance to dive into the books you’ve been meaning to read all year, or to finish those series you’ve been putting off. For me, it was a mix of wrapping up old favorites and exploring new stories. 

Here’s what I read last month:

- Brian McClellan: Blood of Empire

- Muriel Barbery: A Single Rose

- Emma Newman: After Atlas

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot

- Lucy Jones: Matrescence 

- Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan: The Gutter Prayer

- Mike Bockoven: Fantasticland 

- Marie Brennan: Driftwood 

- Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

- Terry Pratchett: Jingo 

Did you finish any series or discover a new favorite last month? I’d love to hear what you read, let’s swap recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena

Peter Brown: The Wild Robot

 Hi everyone

The Wild Robot is Peter Brown's first book in The Wild Robot series. It's a delightful children's book. I got my copy from Bol.com.

"When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is—but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home—until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her."

This was a really heartwarming children’s book. It has a simple but engaging story, lovable characters, a bit of suspense, some hardship, and a few moral lessons woven in. The writing is easy to read, and I even had a few laughs along the way.
It’s the kind of book that warms your heart while still keeping you hooked; it's perfect for young readers or anyone who loves a sweet, uplifting story.

Have you read The Wild Robot? Did you enjoy it as much as I did, or did you connect with it differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena