#BookReview Presents from the Past: Poetic Memories from Times Gone By – Elliot Stanton

Presents from the Past: Nostalgic and wistful – new humour-infused poetry anthology makes the perfect rose-tinted spectacle read.

Elliot Stanton's Presents from the Past takes a light-hearted and sentimental trip down memory lane as he shares fifty poems that have milestones and those all-important smaller moments from his life at their heart.

 

My Review

I enjoyed reading these poems and they did indeed take me down a nostalgic path. While I wasn’t as keen on the poems about attending football matches and collecting football stickers, I favoured the poems about sweet snacks and candy from the old days (1980s and 1990s), the reminiscence of computer games, VHS, taping songs from the radio and all those little things we did as children. This book certainly appeals to the older age group, 40 and up. I really liked a short poem called Coins from a Bygone Europe, with a clever little twist at the end. There is humour and nostalgia in abundance in these poems and they will make you smile and nod agreement as you read them.

 

Visit the author’s website here.

Buy the book from Amazon.  

 

Elliot Stanton's Presents from the Past is a package of poetical delight.

As the 51-year-old author shares some of the milestone moments and the smaller details of his life growing up in the seventies and eighties, this poetry anthology reminds us that our history is being created every day, but sometimes we need to stop and cherish what has gone before.

From the last day of term and school dinners to favourite snacks and eighties must-watch TV, these are eloquent memories that will strike a chord with all.

A perfect gift for all those embracing their sixth decade, Presents from the Past is a pertinent reminder to actually cherish the moment (and not just post it on social media) and to embrace the minutiae that make us whole.

Synopsis:

We all love a bit of nostalgia, and even unfortunate or infuriating events can become fond and well-loved memories over time. Presents From the Past is a humour-infused collection of fifty poems that I have created from such memories. Many of them are from childhood and have lived long in my consciousness, but some are a little more recent and have only just laid down roots in my mind.

This book features poetic reminiscences of such subjects as favourite bygone snacks and old TV programmes, the thrill of the last day of school and attending your first football match, teenage trips to the local cinema and memories of treasured family vacations.

I am confident that every reader will find something that resonates deeply, thus providing that warm, satisfying glow of nostalgia we often long for.

 

The author says:

"Presents From the Past is a collection of 50 poems emerging from fond memories of my childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.

"Of course, my memories are not your memories, but I know each reader will find something that resonates with their own formative years. The theme is affectionate nostalgia, and the compositions project unabashed sentimentality, wistfulness, and touching humour.

"Whilst there are a couple of poems with 'messages,' my aim is purely to entertain and remind people of a more innocent and gentler time."

 

About the author

Presents From the Past is Elliot Stanton's seventh book and his second book of poetry, following, It Can't Just Be Me.

Four of his previous books are humorous novels that all include various aspects of true-life events, but he decided he wanted to try something different this time. So, in the spring of 2019, he decided to write a series of Tales of the Unexpected–type stories and twelve months later, he'd written enough tales to create The Crimson Scarf and Other Short Stories.

During the pandemic lockdown in early 2021, he started writing short, humorous poems on the things seen and experienced. They culminated in two collections; It Can't Just Be Me - Poetic Observations on Modern Life and Presents from The Past - Poetic Memories from Times Gone By.

 

 

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*I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review

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#BookReview Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson

Sometimes it takes a stranger to really know who you are.

My Review

I loved this book, and it has to be my most favourite of the year so far!

I was a little confused when I began reading and realised that the whole story is told in the form of letters between two people. How could you write a whole book based on that format? Quite easily, as it turns out. We learn about Tina and Anders through their correspondence, and we learn about their families, their social circles, the world and the cultures that they grew up in, all wrapped up in reference to archaeology and the nature of what makes us human.

It was nice to read something from characters that are older than we usually find, because they can talk from experience, and we can relate to it. I could easily see Tina in people that I have known and do know and understand how her life happened around her almost by accident.

The book left me feeling warm and fuzzy, but also gave me some serious subjects to think about and apply to my own life as I grow older.

You must read this book!

Get the book

I borrowed this book from my local library, but if you want to read it now, click here.

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#BookReview Leave the World Behind by by Rumaan Alam

A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong.

My Review

I found the first chapter of this book a little boring since it talked about an average family and their road trip to a secluded holiday destination. I stuck with it and gradually the pace picked up a little, although it never really reached a point where I couldn't put it down. I like what the author was trying to convey, and the prose was appealing to me, but the abrupt ending left me feeling short-changed. I realise this was planned and intended, but still, it left me a bit disgruntled! I would recommend this book if you like something completely modern that talks about your average US family and their life experiences.

Get the book

I borrowed this book from my local library, but if you want to read it now, click here.

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#BookReview Incy Wincy (Mal & Jackie Book 2) by R.J. Dark

Malachite Jones is a pretend psychic medium and an unwilling detective.
He certainly doesn't want anyone bringing him a missing persons case.
Definitely not two.
When a body turns up he knows life is only going to get harder.

 
My Review
 
Yorkshire meets Hollywood with a dash of British cynicism thrown in for good measure.
 
This was a very interesting book and not my usual choice. It is the second in a series, but I had no difficulty recognising the characters as they were introduced. I think the story was set in Leeds or Sheffield, but it was never properly confirmed, and I don't know either of those cities well enough to recognise some of the estates and areas that featured in the book. I did enjoy reading a book set in the North of England that was modern, that I could relate to, and that managed to combine Hollywood action with British reservedness, if that makes sense.
 
Jackie was an interesting character, who at first I disliked but in the end grew quite fond of, even recognising and understanding why he behaved the way that he did. Mal was a fairly regular character, and my one disappointment was that he didn't display any obvious psychic skills during the story. I know he is faking it and that is made clear from the start, but still, he must have something that made him set up the business, surely?
 
Generally, I am glad I read this book, it had me gripped when the action kicked in, and it left me thinking about what happened for a while afterwards.
 
Get the book – click here.
 
 

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#Booktalk Totally Loveable: A Mindful Guide to Moving on From Toxic Relationships and Creating the Love You Deserve by Tammy Lovell

Debut Book from ‘The Mindful Diva’ Takes Readers on a Journey from Toxic to Transformed!

 

Written by Tammy Lovell, Totally Loveable is the product of the author’s own experiences and more than seven years of education in meditation, healing and trauma recovery. Full of insight, gentle guidance, and hard-won wisdom, ‘Totally Loveable’ will show readers how to mindfulness can help them create the life and love they deserve.

Mindfulness is well-known as a remedy for everything from anxiety to chronic health conditions, but can it also help you find love?

After a wrenching divorce, journalist Tammy Lovell hit rock bottom. Like so many others going through emotional distress, Lovell turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and came close to losing everything. It was only when she discovered meditation that Lovell saw light in the darkness, and embarked on a journey that would literally change her life.

It’s a journey that inspired Lovell’s new book, Totally Loveable: A Mindful Guide to Moving on From Toxic Relationships and Creating the Love You Deserve. In the book, Lovell shares what has worked for her and clients throughout the healing process and led to her becoming one of the foremost new voices in mindfulness education.

Covering a wide range of topics, including addiction recovery, narcissistic abuse, online dating, and dealing with your inner critic, ‘Totally Loveable’ is also about something profoundly universal to the human experience: finding love.

Synopsis:

Are you ready to move on from toxic relationships and finally get the love you deserve? Tammy Lovell, founder of The Mindful Diva, takes you on a journey of transformative inner work to heal your past, claim your worth and attract love.

Totally Loveable is a guide to moving from hurt to healed, so you can create the happy, fulfilling life and relationship you truly deserve.

Drawing on her expertise as a mindfulness teacher and her personal experience of recovering from a difficult divorce, Tammy outlines a complete plan for transforming the pain of your past into newfound self-love and empowerment.

You'll learn:

·       How to let go of your painful patterns

·       Why mindfulness is the hidden key to manifesting love

·       What to do if you're in love with a narcissist

·       The secret to tackling your inner critic once and for all

·       Why you need to open your heart to love

·       The importance of following your desires

Tried and tested tips for maintaining a healthy relationship… and so much more!

If your confidence has been knocked through divorce, heartbreak or unhappy relationships, this book will provide you with the tools you need to regain your power and get ready for the love you've been dreaming of.

It’s time to realise how Totally Loveable you really are!

“It was my own spiritual journey that led to this book,” says Lovell. “After my divorce my whole life fell apart and I eventually left my hectic media job to train as a mindfulness teacher. It’s been such an empowering change and it’s set me on a course to helping others, which is what I feel called to do.”

 

Continuing, “While anyone can talk about their topic of choice, with this book I guide readers toward their transformation through a series of practical exercises. Everything is laid out for them in an easy-to-follow manner. With this book, they won’t have to wonder if they’re on the right path - it will be there for them to follow. I truly believe my book is the key to changing lives for the better. It’s the best gift I could give - sharing what I’ve learned.”

Visit the author’s official website

 

About the Author

Tammy Lovell is a mindfulness teacher, life coach, women’s circle leader and award-winning health journalist. She is a registered teacher with the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) and her company The Mindful Diva is dedicated to guiding people to overcome stress, anxiety and chronic pain so they can fulfil their purpose in the world.

Tammy started her mindfulness journey back in 2013 when she went through a difficult divorce. After initially turning to alcohol to cope, she went through a personal breakdown which saw her on the verge of losing everything dear to her. At her lowest point she discovered a meditation retreat, which led to a spiritual awakening and a new way of life. After studying mindfulness and coaching, Tammy quit her media job to focus on helping others who are suffering and looking for guidance.

In 2020, Tammy co-founded Awakening Women’s Circle with a friend as an online offering to help women feeling alone during global coronavirus lockdowns. Tammy now writes and teaches about mindfulness, health and relationships full-time.

She has been featured in publications including Soul & Spirit, The Mail on Sunday, and Menopause Life.

 

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