Hello and a very warm welcome to damppebbles. It’s the start of a brand new week and day 20 of #R3COMM3ND3D2021. I have lots more fabulous books to share with over the next seven days (and beyond!). In fact, as things currently stand, we’re at the halfway point. To date 40 bookish folk have signed up to shout about three of their favourite reads from 2021. If you would like to join them then fret not, there’s still time. You have until midday (GMT) on Wednesday 1st December to submit your three choices.
Joining me to share the book love today is the fabulous Nicki Mags of Secret Library Book Blog. I absolutely adore Nicki’s blog and heartily recommend that you check it out if you don’t follow already. You can thank me later 😉
So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2021? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2021. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2021 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉
As this is the fifth year of #R3C, things are going to be a smidge different this year. There’s a scary deadline involved *shudder*. The #R3COMM3ND3D application form will only be open until midday (GMT) on Wednesday 1st December. If you would like to take part in #R3C this year (and I would LOVE you to!) then please get your three choices in sooner rather than later. Any posts scheduled for later in December will be brought forward and I will close the series early if I’m not able to fill all of the available dates. The form is at the bottom of this post if you fancy taking part.
Here are the three books Nicki recommends…
How to be Sad: Everything I’ve Learned About Getting Happier by Being Sad, Better by Helen Russell
This was such a good audiobook and so helpful! In fact I loved it so much I also bought the hardback! This book is part memoir, part self-help and it worked so well for me. I love Helen Russell’s style of writing and loved her narration too, it made the book even better that she was reading it, as it made her life experiences all the more poignant. I learnt so much about sadness and emotions from this book, particularly how society has suppressed emotions for a long time, particularly sadness and it’s not doing us any good. Along with the author’s personal story, there’s lots of very interesting and helpful facts and resources about sadness, depression, and mental health in general. It really is a cornucopia of a book and one I highly recommend and will be returning to regularly.
Nicki’s Review of How to be Sad: Everything I’ve Learned About Getting Happier by Being Sad, Better
And Away… by Bob Mortimer
This was hilarious, a real laugh out loud autobiography from one of Britain’s funniest comedians! As soon as I spotted that this book was coming out, I knew that I wanted to listen to it rather than read it. It was definitely the right decision as only Bob Mortimer himself could deliver the weird and wacky stories from his own past. I loved the stories from his childhood and adolescence, so many had me crying with laughter, even making me smile now as I think about them. It’s not all hilarious though, as he spoke candidly about how’s he really struggled with shyness all his life and with depression at uni. It was really quite sad at times, especially when revealed how hard he found it making and keeping friends. I also enjoyed hearing about his TV shows with Vic Reeves, especially when about the revamp of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), as it’s a family favourite. There was lots of silly stories off and on set and also some embarrassing ones too! I highly recommend this on audio if you enjoy humorous autobiographies read by the author.
Nicki’s Review of And Away…
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
The story was just brilliant, full of twists and turns. but with depth, not just out to shock or ramp up the tension like lots of psychological thrillers. This was an audiobook that I got lost in and enjoyed every single minute listening to. Rosamund Pike’s narration was absolutely superb! I love her as an actress anyway, and this audiobook has made her one of my favourite narrators. She brought all the characters to life was such distinct voices, that at times I had to remind myself that I was only listening to one person. Sometimes I felt like I was listening to a dramatised version of the book rather than an audiobook.
Nicki’s Review of A Slow Fire Burning
Three brilliant choices, thanks so much Nicki. I know for a fact that my husband is hoping for And Away… for Christmas so nice to see it recommended here. I’m keeping everything crossed that Santa is listening as I quite fancy it too, along with your other two picks!
About Nicki Mags:
I’ve blogging about books for over 5 years and have read and listened to some amazing books in that time. I love audiobooks as they give an added depth to books, especially if the narrator is good. I’m definitely a mood reader so don’t always know what I’ll be reading next certainly, which makes reading and reviewing very interesting.
Nicki’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Secret Library Book Blog | Twitter @Nicki_Mags | Facebook | Instagram @nicki_mags |
If you’re a book blogger, bookstagrammer or an author and you have three books published this year which you want to shout about then please complete the following form (or click this link: https://forms.gle/pHinvKCHGP89wumn9)
damppebbles.com 
Thanks Emma I love taking part. Hope Santa surprises your husband with Bob Mortimer’s book this Christmas! 😉
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😂 Thanks so much for taking part in #R3COMM3ND3D again, Nicki 💜
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