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Derek Landy’s “A Heart Full of Hatred”: Mature Themes in Skulduggery Pleasant

A Heart Full of Hatred by Derek Landy.

A review by Kate O’Brien.

Landy has brought us back to the world of Skulduggery Pleasant yet again. In this latest book, Valkyrie Cain learns that she is the next target of a killer. Skulduggery and Valkyrie find themselves wrapped up in another murder investigation, but the most unsettling part is that this case feels all too much like a case they just closed.

For the first time, Valkyrie reflects on the dangers of what she does as the last case nearly took the lives of both her sister and her girlfriend, and now the same pattern seems to be emerging. Are those whom she loves in danger again? The killer is working hard as more bodies are piling up and the clock is ticking. The elites of the sorcerer world are planning to gather on a remote island to witness a special ceremony that might change the society forevermore. As expected, nobody is safe. If you’re a fan of Landy, you know that you’re in for a book of twists and turns.

The Skulduggery Pleasant series continues to evolve, and those who know Landy’s style to be action-packed and very funny due to his sarcastic wit and sharp, fast, and very dry humour, will be glad to see that A Heart Full of Hatred remains true to that known and loved writing style.

I will say that I feel as though this book is more character focused than some of the previous books. It does feel more mature in tone, especially as Valkyrie is beginning to reflect more on her feelings, and notably, on her fears. I’ve often said that I think that readers who grew up loving the Skulduggery Pleasant series will definitely enjoy these books, perhaps a bit more than readers who are just discovering the series now. That’s not to say that new readers would not or could not enjoy the series now, but there is a special sense of nostalgia that accompanies a series when you started reading it as a child and you continue reading into adulthood. How we feel about the characters, and how we relate to them evolves as we age, and I think the fact that this series has been in the world for so long is part of why some of the arcs are so impressive.

I do think that I would be recommending the books now to older teens because they do feel darker now, especially because of how the tone has begun to shift. There is always a political and social awareness that can be identified in Landy’s writing, and in terms of viewing things through a lens of childhood and YA reading, there is absolutely a notable shift in Valkyrie specifically, because this person who was once quite cocky and believed they were indestructible now understands that they very well could be killed, but Valkyrie looks danger in the face anyways. She will not be deterred from investigating these murders. In this shift though, I would argue that readers can relate to this arc because as we get older, we do become more aware of our own limits and how things can threaten us, and we don’t have the same fearless abandon that we had as children when we didn’t understand that there are threats that are very real. So, I do think that this idea of feeling fear but going forward anyways really appeals to long-term fans of this series, because although the world of Skulduggery Pleasant is filled with magic, mystery, and wonder, the personal arcs we get to see are still very relatable outside of the fiction.

I think it is quite obvious that Landy is leaning into horror genres that he loves when writing these newer books. Based on Landy’s dedication alone, in which he dedicates A Heart Full of Hatred to Freddy, to Michael, to Ghostface, “to all of the slasher movie killers…to all of the wonderful ways they’ve thought of to kill somebody …also to those who survived their rampages, who stopped running, turned around and kicked their asses,” I do think it is fair to say that this book feels very much like a nod to all the slasher movies that Landy himself must love. The book could almost be a great way to introduce a teenage reader to the slasher genre, but beyond all of this, I do think that resilience is the key theme of this latest book.

There will always be things to fear, dangers will lurk more often than not, and sometimes we will fear for the ones we love most, but we cannot hide from those dangers. We must face them head on and always find the light in the dark.

I would recommend A Heart Full of Hatred to any long-term Landy fan and to readers 14+

Thank you to HarperCollins Ireland for sending me an advanced copy. Please note this is not a paid review, not an ad, not PR etc. I was not asked to write anything, but I wanted to share my thoughts and as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stay tuned for more literary discussions coming soon on Katelovesliterature.com

Follow me on Instagram @katelovesliterature if you don’t already.

A Night with Jane Casey: Exploring The Secret Room

I had the most lovely, literary evening on Tuesday night in the Clarence Hotel, courtesy of HarperCollins Ireland. It was a pleasure to be invited to the “proof party” to celebrate Jane Casey’s upcoming new book. The Secret Room is a locked-room mystery, so fans of Agatha Christie are in for a treat. It is always amazing to be in a room full of very enthusiastic book lovers, and it was so lovely to meet Jane in person.

Coming out in April this year, The Secret Room follows the very privileged Ilaria Cavendish as she checks into a luxury hotel in London. The glamour promptly fades when she is found dead in the bath by her lover.

It must have been an accident. After all, no one went into the room with her and no one came out, and yet, all the signs point to murder.

DS Maeve Kerrigan enters the scene, happy to have a case like this to take her mind off of everything going on at home. When her partner, DI Josh Derwent, is arrested, Maeve must investigate the two cases side by side, not wanting to face what will come to be if she fails.

Jane said she hopes this book will be a “just one more chapter” page turner, and based on the fact that she has described it as a story that will appeal to classic Agatha Christie fans, I’m excited about diving in.

I’m a fan of crime fiction, and I can thank my mother for that. She has always been a fan of Michael Connelly and too many other authors to name. Our windowsills at home are filled with books all about mysteries and cold cases, impossible cases that just don’t make sense until they do. We also watch our fair share of detective series together. Some are better than others, some are quite formulaic, I can admit that, but we still always have a great time watching a story unfold.

As you might imagine when I came home with this proof, she immediately said she wants to read it after me, and I already know that the concept of Jane’s locked-room murder is going to have her racing through the pages.

So, what is a locked-room murder?

Popular in crime fiction, a locked-room murder is a type of crime that seems impossible to commit. It usually involves a crime scene that, appears to have only been entered by the victim. In this case, Ilaria checked into her hotel room and locked the door. She went into her room alone. Nobody else went in or out, and then she was found dead. How did that happen?

Another example is if someone enters a room that has been sealed from the inside, meaning that nobody could get in or out, and there does not appear to be another way in at all e.g. there are now windows, no backdoors, but when the body is found, it is clear that a weapon was used, but in the sealed room there is no weapon to be found. So, where is that weapon now, and how did the perpetrator get in and out after using it?

The locked-room mystery presents readers with an impossible case, one that couldn’t have happened and yet it did. That is what is so addicting when our detectives enter the scene because they have been presented with a very strange puzzle, and we go along with them as they unravel what went on. Nothing is as it seems when faced with a locked-door murder. Readers can expect lots of twists and turns, dead ends and strange nuggets that become leads, and before you know it, you’re hooked and desperate to know more.

I look forward to writing a full book review after reading The Secret Room by Jane Casey. As always, all thoughts and opinions shared will be completely honest and completely my own.

In the meantime, I would like to say thank you again to the HarperCollins Ireland team for inviting me on Tuesday evening.

If you follow me on Instagram then you will already know that I have two literary discussions coming up soon.

Having just seen Blue Velvet, I plan to discuss the intoxication of morbid curiosity, and I am looking forward to seeing King Lear in the Gate very soon, and I plan to write about the obsessive nature of integrity.

Stay tuned.

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Must-Read Books of 2024: A Journey Through Darkness

As an avid book lover, it is always hard to pick any absolute favourite reads, and I did read a lot of books that I loved in 2024. In spite of this, I have decided to compile a list of what books were my favourite reads. They’re in no particular order; I don’t think I could pick an outright favourite. They’re all vastly different and I loved them all for several reasons. So, without further ado, here are my best books of 2024.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

This short, evocative tale tells the story of the mysterious Blackwood sisters. 28-year-old Constance and 18-year-old Mary Katharine (Merricat). They live in a big old house on the outskirts of town with their ailing uncle. The Blackwood sisters are hated by the locals, and Merricat certainly hates them as well. Jackson, as always, is a master storyteller when it comes to letting horror slowly unfold, she builds a world filled with dark implications, but is it not until the very end do we learn whether or not there actually is a dark secret held within the Blackwood house, or if the ghost stories and just cruel rumours made up by a hateful small town. Did one of the sisters murder their whole family? Aside from Uncle Julian, every other member of the Blackwood family was poisoned with arsenic six years ago. Now the three survivors and their black cat Jonas live together in practised, tightly controlled harmony. When their long-lost cousin Charles arrives on their doorstep, highly interested in the lovely Constance and the Blackwood family estate, Merricat is determined to keep him away, just as she has always kept everyone else away.

I loved every second of this book. It was eerie, it was intriguing, it was a wonderfully dark exploration of how houses become haunted and how scary stories come into fruition. Is there something to truly fear in the big house upon the hill? Are the people who dwell there really something frightful? Perhaps not. You’ll have to read for yourself to see.

Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?

Oh, no, said Merricat, you’ll poison me.

Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?

Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!

~ We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

A theme has emerged. 2024 was my year of haunted house reads.

I have always been a fan of Shirley Jackson’s works, and I think that it would be incredibly hard for me to choose between We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House.

I think that the story of Constance and Merricat is more curiously dark whereas Eleanor’s tale in The Haunting of Hill House is much more tragic.

The Haunting of Hill House invites readers to explore whether or not this big house on the hill is truly haunted. It has been the setting for much tragedy, and now a group of misfits have arrived to investigate. The lonely Eleanor being one of them. She’s already terribly nervous to begin with. She’s timid and lonely, and it seems that the house causes her to unravel. Jackson has famously said that she believes it is more interesting to say that the house was not truly haunted, which suggests that the ghosts that inhabited it are all of the characters’ own making. Eleanor arrived with her own struggles, her own fears, and the house was already known to be a tragic place. Tragic and haunted, however, are not the same, and a house being “haunted” by history, is different from when supernatural figures are afoot. I really enjoy the ambiguity of this book.

I appreciate the many ways in which it made me think. There are various kinds of ghost stories, some are metaphorical, others are “real” from the outset as it has been established that ghosts are real and there are in fact unexplainable forces at work, but sometimes that is entirely up to the reader. Sometimes the “ghosts” are actually our own fears and projections at work, but that doesn’t change the fact that really haunted or not, Hill House will always be haunted to Eleanor and by Eleanor. Read for yourself. Make up your own mind.

No Human eye can isolate the unhappy coincidence of line and place which suggests evil in the face of a house, and yet somehow a maniac juxtaposition, a badly turned angle, some chance meeting of roof and sky, turned Hill House into a place of despair, more frightening because the face of Hill House seemed awake, with a watchfulness from the blank windows and a touch of glee in the eyebrow of a cornice.

~ The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Set 1985 in a small Irish village, this short but powerful story follows Bill Furlong’s internal battle with trying to find the purpose in his life and deciding that he cannot look away from the abuse he knows is happening anymore. No longer content to accept that “that’s just how it is,” or “it’s not for us to say,” Bill decides to act in the small way that he can. After all, all those small actions can make the world of a difference to someone else.

This book made me incredibly angry and sad, and I had to include it in this discussion because I don’t think that the abuse that women and children faced can ever be discussed enough. In Small Things Like These, Keegan addresses the horrific treatment of women in the Magdalene Laundries and how the church was an always present, oppressive presence in 1980s Ireland. I was so glad to see this story get the recognition it deserved this past year, and it was fantastic to see just how many conversations were sparked when the film version came out.

This story challenges us to take those crucial steps towards confronting and disentangling systemic abuse, highlighting how even the small actions of just one person can make a huge difference to someone else. Just one person standing up to say “this is wrong, we should not accept this,” goes a long way. Survivors of the Magdalene Laundries should be highly respected after the horrific ordeals they were forced to endure, especially as still, they are owed immeasurable apologies and compensation, from the Church, from the Government, and from society. I hope that as we move forward, abuse, particularly systemic abuse and hypocrisy will continue to be highlighted, confronted, and condemned. I think that Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan should be a mandatory text.

As they carried along and met more people Furlong did and did not know, he found himself asking was there any point in being alive without helping one another? Was it possible to carry on along through all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian, and face yourself in the mirror?

~ Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

In a world where books are deemed valueless by society, no one asks questions, even walking outside is deemed suspicious. Firemen are no longer heroic figures who put out flames, instead, they light houses on fire. The story follows Guy Montag, a fireman who comes from a lengthy line of firemen. He is happy to be part of the world that never reads until he is not. Guy’s mindset begins to shift when his young neighbour Clarisse awakens a long-forgotten part of his mind, if it was ever awake at all, the part that likes to think, by asking a few questions. When he begins to look at his actions, he does not like his reality so much anymore. He burns books and with them, he burns curiosity, he burns access to information, he burns wonder and stories until he can no longer burn anything anymore. Maybe he should take a look inside these books, maybe he should see what all the fuss is about, maybe he does not wish to be a fireman anymore.

Fahrenheit 451 is bleak, exploring heavy themes such as conforming vs questioning, the individual vs society, emptiness vs meaning. This dystopian book may be desolate and at times it is quite dark, however it does end on a hopeful note, one that notes the resilience of humanity after exploring how cold humanity can become. I really enjoyed this book, despite it being bleak, as I appreciate the way it made me think about certain things. I have always been in a position where access to books has never been a question. I have always been able to read anything that I wanted, and I recognise that this is a privilege. It is easy to take books and access to all kinds of books for granted sometimes, which is why Fahrenheit 451 was an especially important read. This is one of those books that will always be relevant, especially when we look at the wider goings-on in the world.

The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.

~ Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop

In this book, the witty, incredibly intelligent, resilient, and loving force of talent that is Kelly Bishop aka Emily Gilmore of Gilmore Girls, shares her life story. From her earliest days of falling in love with dance classes as a child, to her performing days in Las Vegas and of course her Tony winning run on Broadway, to her Hollywood credits including Dirty Dancing and of course Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop shares the ins and outs, the ups and downs of her life. Her professional life and her personal life, and even if you have never watched one single episode of Gilmore Girls, this is a must read. Kelly Bishop is an incredible storyteller, and her memoir is so open, honest, funny, and very moving. I think I read this book in three days. I couldn’t put it down. Kelly Bishop talks about herself, her experiences, and the people in her life, at work and at home, with an amazing sense of clarity. It is impressive and it is a skill I’d love to further develop. There are also some absolutely beautiful photographs included in the book. It was stunning to see someone’s creative life displayed and celebrated in such striking shots.

You don’t have to miss out on the joy of learning something you’re passionate about. If it’s in you, it’s out there waiting for you.

~The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop.

The Faerie Isle by Síne Quinn

This is a must read for folklore lovers. Síne Quinn breathes new life into folklore in this wonderful book of magic, myths, and legends. It is clear to see that this collection was created with passion and care. In this striking and haunting collection of tales, Síne’s captivating storytelling will pull readers into this magical realm, but she does not shy away from sharing the spookier side of all things mythical. This was the perfect spooky season read, an ideal “starter scare” for younger readers, and perfectly accompanied by Dermot Flynn’s rich illustrations. The mood was set, and I was enthralled. In these tales, Síne has invited readers into a world of intrigue, wonder, longing, and a sense of poignant loss, as well as leaving readers eager to learn more about these once forgotten legends.

I’ve always loved fairy tales, and I love escaping into enchanted worlds of myths and legends, and I think it is wonderful that younger readers especially have the opportunity to enjoy these once unknown stories.

He swears that from that day forth his luck in life changed for the better.

~ The Faerie Isle by Síne Quinn.

While putting together this list, I ‘ve realised that many of the books that I loved in 2024 explored related topics and I think an overlap of themes can be spotted. I gravitated towards stories that explore what makes a place haunted. Are places really haunted by supernatural beings or are they haunted by the history they hold? If something tragic occurred somewhere, can that place ever truly feel disconnected from the events that took place, or will that dark history always be there? Should that history always be there? Should it always be acknowledged? I think so, especially if we are bringing past abuse into the light and acknowledging those who once went ignored or silenced.

I think that this idea of being haunted and bringing abuse to light went hand-in-hand with the themes of censorship that were explored in some of the books I read in 2024, particularly as I noted above in Fahrenheit 451. Censoring what people read and what people say is another way of attempting to silence people. If we do not read about atrocities that occurred, they can never be confronted, and the people who were mistreated can’t have their stories told or voices heard, and those who participate in the mistreatment of others can continue to do so without facing consequences or condemnation. Interestingly, many of the books I have loved in 2024 commented on what happens when society allows terrible things to happen, and on what happens when society turns a blind-eye to certain situations or certain people. I didn’t choose these books intentionally because I wanted to read about these topics, and I did enjoy other reads, but these are the ones that truly struck chords, and I don’t think that can be overlooked. They stood out for many key reasons that I feel many will understand without having to overly explain.

I believe that it is more important than ever that we all have access to all reading materials. It is crucial that we all know that we have a right to information and education and in light of recent events, I think it is more vital than ever that we remember to have empathy for others, and that we do stand up for those who have been mistreated and abused by those in positions of power, even if time has passed. Once these things are brought to light, even if society once played a role by staying quiet, it is crucial that society does not stay quiet any longer. We must mind each other and support each other so that we always go forwards and never back towards the dark.

Literature has always reflected upon and/or critiqued society and societal issues, and I hope that it will always continue to do so, and that we always read these stories with passion.

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Balancing Passion Projects and Real Life in 2025

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a lovely and merry festive season. Before Christmas I decided to take a break from writing long-form literary discussions. I’ve stayed active on Instagram in the meantime, but now that we are heading into a new year, I think it is time to try to get back to one of my most favourite things – talking about literature.

I’m not going to start the year with promises. I’ve always talked about how writing for my website is my passion project, but it is not my “real-life” job. This is still the case. I am very lucky to be able to say that I really enjoy my “real-life” job, and while I feel it is always important to maintain balance and fit in time to do things such as work on passion projects, sometimes the schedule gets very busy and full of events, and there have been some long-form topic ideas that I was really looking forward to writing, but I had to put them aside and take a break because there is only so much time in the day and you can only spend so long typing and looking at screens. (My “real-life” job involves writing too. I am one with my keyboard at this stage!)

So, while I would love to say that I will be publishing one long-form discussion every month here on Katelovesliterature.com, I don’t want to promise that and not be able to maintain it.

My aim for 2025 is to publish a discussion at least once a month. I’m planning to write longer pieces as publishing will be less frequent than it once was.

I will still be posting mini reviews/literary thoughts on Instagram so make sure you follow @katelovesliterature if you don’t already as my literary lover grid is the place to see what movies I’m loving, my current reads, theatre trips and much more. I love the bookish corner of Instagram, so when I’m not writing here on Katelovesliterature.com, I am more frequently active there.

I am going to kick off 2025 with a reading recommendation.

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop was one of my most loved books of 2024.

I don’t read memoirs very often, but I loved every page of this one. It is refreshing to read about a woman who knows her own mind so well, because as you go through this book, with every chapter it becomes clearer and clearer that Kelly Bishop is a woman who knows herself. Even if she later decides that something was not the best decision, she knows exactly why she made the decision at the time. She talks about herself, her experiences, and the people in her life, at work and at home, with an amazing sense of clarity. It is impressive and it is a skill I’d love to further develop. There are also some absolutely beautiful photographs included in the book. It was stunning to see someone’s creative life displayed and celebrated in such striking shots.

I highly recommend The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop to anyone who is a fan of the theatre, of dance, of Gilmore Girls, because this is a book that you will love. I would also encourage any reader to give this a go, because Kelly Bishop’s life story is a fascinating, entertaining read and I think anyone who sits down to read this book will enjoy it.

Here’s to 2025. Here’s to more literary chats.

Wishing a very happy, healthy new year to you all.

Kate xo.

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The Haunted House on Hollow Hill by Derek Landy

A review by Kate O’Brien

“October, crisp, misty, golden October, when the light is sweet and heavy.” ~ Angela Carter

I am currently relishing in the crisp days of autumn where everything glows a little bit golden and orange. It has been an extremely busy few weeks, but I am excited about sharing some Spooky Season books and movies as we get closer to Halloween.

I am kicking off this year’s Spooky Season themed discussions with my review of Derek Landy’s latest book. The Haunted House on Hollow Hill was published on Sep 26th, 2024. This book follows the podcast of the same name, where listeners could tune into this episodic mystery. Now the world of the Hollow Hotel has been laid out on paper and readers can explore this mystery full of twists and turns …

Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain just wanted to interview Romeo Gideon, but the most haunted house in Britain should have been a clue that things would not go to plan.

On a dark, stormy night, as a deadly killer attacks one by one, Skulduggery and Valkyrie do not have much time to find the killer as they try to survive in this haunted hotel filled with the tortured spirits of the dead.

Before even opening the book, I was so happy to see it had so many things that I love. I am a huge fan of a dark and stormy night. It is such a simple yet effective setting. Instantly the tone is set and as readers, we are slightly on edge.

I love the gothic element of being trapped in a spooky house with no way out and being faced with scary events that protagonists must try to escape. The setting of a home is hugely important in gothic stories because home is such a key theme in so much literature. Finding one’s home is often a huge motivator in narratives. Home is often the safe place, the sanctuary, the place where one feels they belong, so when home is suddenly the danger site, the place we want to run from, that is interesting, and haunted houses are usually really alluring, dynamic settings because they so often intrigue as well as horrify. The image of this intimidating house on the hill, it looks so scary, and yet it almost pulls you inside.

There is a really satisfying, slow-build sensation that manifests itself very well in haunted house settings. The build from feeling that this huge, impressive house is kind of intimidating, to perhaps being awed by the place, yet there is this eerie undercurrent that something seems off, to that fear when you realise something is off, and now you cannot leave, is always really exciting and impactful in my opinion, whether you’re reading a book or watching a movie.

At its heart, this is a murder mystery. If you take away the supernatural elements, this plotline would have worked fantastically well as an episode of Murder, She Wrote, and I think fans of Agatha Christie would enjoy this book even if they were not fans of the Skulduggery Pleasant series. This book stands alone.

Readers who love the Skulduggery and Valkyrie dynamic will be glad to see that this book is filled with their usual banter as Derek Landy once again expertly weaves humour into his plots despite the pair investigating serious crimes.

I think the fact that this story was first introduced on a podcast is quite fascinating, as personally I like seeing how stories expand into different forms of media. There are many different ways to tell a story, and I think having the ability to not only read this story, but to listen to it as well, is great. Listening to a podcast is quite different to reading words written on the page. I haven’t listened to the podcast myself yet, but I imagine it would be lots of fun to hear these characters be brought to life, and based on the setting and the tone, I imagine it would be quite atmospheric, an ideal listen for the month of October if you want to fully embrace Spooky Season.

As the plot evolves and more twists and turns play out, the story does become more complex and because there are lots of characters in the fray, at later parts of the book, I do think that reading the words on the page would make it easier to keep track of everyone than it would be when listening, however that is just a personal thought and one that I have before listening so I could change my mind. I do plan to listen to the podcast too, because I am eager to see if the story feels different when listening after reading.

I really enjoyed this book; it was a fun October read. I am a fan of the world of Skulduggery Pleasant. I think Landy is a fun writer, he always has this knack for making plots feel very big and perhaps a bit wild as there are so many twists and turns, but he will ground it again because a detail that may have felt minor at the time has come up again and you see that Landy laid that foundation much earlier and now it has come full circle. I would describe him as a very visual writer, because reading this book and knowing it is possible to explore this story in the mode of a podcast as well made it really easy to also visualise this story. As I said earlier, I could visualise the Murder, She Wrote episode, and personally I enjoy when books feel cinematic as then it is easier to picture the world that is being built.

If you like ghost stories, if you like murder mysteries, if you are a fan of stories that take place in one setting and there is a time crunch, then this book is one that you need to add to your bookshelf this October. I would recommend The Haunted House on Hollow Hill by Derek Landy to readers aged 13+

Make sure you stay tuned on Instagram @katelovesliterature to see what is coming up next!

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

A book review by Kate O’Brien.

Can you imagine a world where books are deemed valueless by society? Can you picture living in a world where no one asks questions, where even walking outside is deemed suspicious? Can you imagine the chaos of what would happen if firemen were no longer heroic figures who put out flames and instead, they lit houses on fire instead? The scary thing is maybe we can picture this world. Ray Bradbury brings this world to life in Fahrenheit 451.

Guy Montag is a fireman. He has always been a fireman. His father was a fireman, his grandfather was a fireman, and these days it is almost like his hands move by themselves, pouring kerosene and lighting matches as though he has no part in the action. He is happy to be part of the world that never reads until he is not. Guy’s mindset begins to shift when his young neighbour Clarisse awakens a long-forgotten part of his mind, if it was ever awake at all, the part that likes to think, by asking a few questions. Then one day, a horrific fire forces Guy to admit that his hands do not move of their own accord. He does indeed start fires, he burns books and with them, he burns curiosity, he burns access to information, he burns wonder and stories until he can no longer burn anything anymore. Maybe he should take a look inside these books, maybe he should see what all the fuss is about, maybe he does not wish to be a fireman anymore.

Fahrenheit 451 is rather bleak, and it explores heavy themes such as conforming vs questioning, the individual vs society, emptiness vs meaning. This dystopian book may be desolate and at times it is quite dark, however it does end on a hopeful note, one that notes the resilience of humanity after exploring how cold humanity can become.

This book is about book burning, but not in the way that one might expect. Fahrenheit 451 is not about certain groups of people burning and banning certain kinds of books, this book is about a world where all books are deemed worthless. Fahrenheit 451 presents a world in which all emotions aside from happiness are repressed. You cannot have too many thoughts, you cannot have conflicting ideas, you cannot know about any dangers or sadness because none of those things are fun. Go speeding in your car, have walls of television, have constant media playing through earbuds, even when you sleep, escape all thoughts, escape all reflection, and just have fun. All fun, all the time should be great, shouldn’t it? We may think so, but within all this fun, within all this constant, relentless distraction, there is nothing but cold, empty, misery.

I really enjoyed this book, despite it being more on the bleak side of the reading scale.

I have always been in a position where access to books has never been a question. I have always been able to read anything that I wanted, and I recognise that this is a privilege. It is easy to take books and access to all kinds of books for granted sometimes, which is why I felt that Fahrenheit 451 was an especially important read. I would recommend this book to readers aged 14+.

I had the opportunity to discuss this book even further alongside my podcast co-host Seán, and if you are interested in the themes I mentioned up above, you can listen to episode #04 of Your Book or Mine? now on Spotify.

#JoinTheBookClub

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The dandelion’s tale: An allegory of migration by Margaret Anne Suggs.

A review by Kate O’Brien.

Sometimes it is the most simple stories that pull on our heartstrings the most.

I often find that the books that are created with young readers in mind are the books that tell the most touching, poignant stories. Maybe that is because young readers are often the most open, accepting, and curious about different ideas. I do believe that cynicism attempts to take up more space as we get older, and I make a point to try to retain that open sense of childhood wonder. I never want to scoff at a new idea, instead, I want to try to embrace it with the same inquisitiveness that I would have when I was seven or eight.

In The dandelion’s tale, through her use of beautiful watercolours, and lighthearted storytelling, Margaret Anne Suggs has created a lovely, much needed book that parents, guardians, and teachers can use when starting to have conversations with young readers about how sometimes, people must leave their homes and find somewhere else to live.

One of my favourite pages can be found near the very end of this book. Margaret Anne Suggs has taken the time to share just how important dandelions are, and how they hold a valuable place in the world. I feel that this book is not just a tool to help children learn about migration, I also feel that this book could be used to encourage people, especially young children, who have taken the journey to a new place just as the dandelions did.

I cannot speak from personal experience about migration, but it is not hard to imagine that having to leave one’s home because it is no longer safe and trying to find stability in a new place is not easy, and it must be especially hard for children who do not fully understand the extent of what is happening to them. I think having a book that represents their journey and highlights how important they are is a wonderful thing. If young readers get to see how strong and resilient the dandelions are, they can also think about how strong and resilient they have been.

I speak about the power of books very often. I always discuss how books expand horizons by allowing us to understand other people, other places, and other experiences beyond our own.

I believe it is very important to introduce bigger topics to younger readers in a way that they can manage, because I think the more we know, the more we can do, even at an early age. Children experiencing migration firsthand and children who are learning about it, deserve to be given high quality learning materials to help them understand what is going on in the world around them. The hope would be that the more they understand the different experiences that people face, the more understanding and caring they will be towards each other.

Margaret Anne Suggs has created a story that can give readers flexibility. It can be a beautiful, quite literal story about the strength, beauty, and resilience that is found in nature, and as we open ourselves up more to viewpoints, and as young readers get that little bit more advanced, the book can be appreciated further, as we introduce young readers to wider conversations about migration in a very age-appropriate way.

I want to thank Graffeg Books for sending me a copy of this book in the post, and I want to congratulate Margaret on a beautiful story. Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know that I have had the pleasure of working with Margaret before, so it is wonderful to see more of her creativity come to life, however it is important to note that all opinions discussed above are my own, and this is not a paid for review, nor is it sponsored in any way.

I would recommend this book to readers aged 6+.
For more updates about what is coming up next, you can stay up-to-date on Instagram @katelovesliterature

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Frankfurt: My Travel Diary

My fairy tale adventures in Frankfurt: A Travel Diary.

By Kate O’Brien.

I did not expect to go on two trips in January. On Christmas Day, roughly two hours after my Mam surprised me by telling me that she and I were headed to NYC, my boyfriend surprised me by telling me that he and I were headed to Frankfurt … three days later.

To say I was shocked and delighted would be an understatement. So I landed in Dublin from NYC on a Monday morning and on Thursday I was back in Dublin airport with my repacked suitcase, ready for a snowy adventure.

This was my second time travelling to Germany, but my first ever visit to Frankfurt so I was very excited to see a new city for the first time. By now you all know that I love a literary inspired trip, and Frankfurt did not disappoint.

Frankfurt is a city packed with culture, at times it felt like we were seeing museums on every corner. The city was cold and crisp, very cold in fact. I loved seeing snow topped trees as the plane was landing, and we arrived to snow on the ground and icicles on railings. It was the winter trip of my dreams, and I thoroughly enjoyed being bundled up as we explored.

One of my favourite things about Frankfurt is that it is a very walkable city, aside from getting the metro here and there for ease, we found ourselves walking everywhere. The city was very easy to navigate and we enjoyed seeing the beautiful buildings as we walked around.

I love city breaks, but I always feel as though there is so much more I want to do, which is why I make a list of reasons to go back! Frankfurt was no exception, there are many things that I wish we got to do, so I’m sure we will be returning at some point in the future, however we did get to do some amazing things while we were there, if you’re looking for travel inspo, I’ve got you covered.

We stayed in the Hotel Schopenhauer Hof, which was an ideal spot beside the river.

We were lucky as we had a fabulous river view from our room. We were a five minute walk away from the Iron Footbridge, from Römer, and from the Frankfurt Cathedral, and we were surrounded by some amazing spots for food and drinks.

As two film lovers, we couldn’t go to Frankfurt and not visit the German Film Museum.

For only €6 each, we had a wonderful afternoon exploring the exhibitions. This museum is home to original sketches and storyboards from Disney classics such as Peter Pan and Snow White, face moulds and masks from Star Wars, and one of the original aliens from Alien. It was really amazing to see such an appreciation and love for films on display.

One of the most beautiful spots was Römerberg, a historical square that is home to gorgeous, mediaeval buildings and bustling markets. I would imagine this square is absolutely beautiful on a bright, warm, summer day, but we loved it in the snow just as much.

We loved wandering the city and seeing where the day would take us. We explored some amazing book shops and antique shops. I was particularly thrilled to find a collection of wooden nutcrackers in an antique shop, and I’m only sorry that none of them would fit in my suitcase.

I am a fairy tale lover, so much so that for my master’s dissertation I focused on fairy tales.

This trip was partially a Christmas gift, and partially to celebrate that I have received my master’s degree in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, so we simply had to have an adventure and visit some of the spots on the German Fairy Tale Route.

My dream is to one day do a road trip to complete more of the stops on this route, however this trip was the perfect beginning. The journey from Frankfurt to Hanau is only thirty minutes on the metro, so a day ticket was purchased and off we set to the home of the Grimm Brothers.

The Brothers Grimm National Monument is the starting point of the German Fairy Tale Route.

The statue sits in the Am market and it is the focal point of the busy village square. The statue features the brothers, we can see that Wilhelm Grimm is sitting down while Jacob Grimm is standing beside him. Local legends suggest that Jacob and Wilhelm secretly swap places at midnight, which is a story that I’m fond of as it sounds like a fairy tale that the brothers would create.

Fairy tale lovers can also enjoy the Hanau Fairy Tale Path. There are statues all around Hanau, depicting scenes from Grimm fairy tales. We loved seeing each statue and seeing which tale it was from as we walked around. It was very special to see fairy tales being celebrated this way.

We also visited Philippsruhe Castle, where the Historical Museum of the city of Hanau is located. The GrimmsMärchenReich, the first Brothers Grimm interactive museum in Germany, is located in the right wing. This might have been my favourite part of the trip, although it is hard to pick just one favourite thing. Visiting the castle grounds made me feel like I had stepped into Beauty and the Beast. The grounds were blanketed in sparkling, white snow. Fountains and lakes were completely frozen over, all gleaming under a crisp blue sky. It was picturesque.

The museum itself was stunning. High, stucco ceilings, breathtaking chandeliers, the most beautiful ballrooms and drawing rooms with paintings, cabinets, and other pieces on display, taking a walk through this place was like walking through a storybook. Not only did we get to enjoy some history, but we got to enjoy the fairy tale exhibit too. The whispering corridor, which features open fairy tale books that whisper to you as you walk by, was a highlight for me. I felt like a little girl again. Young children have the option to explore the fairy tale exhibit in costume, and it was fantastic to see young kids having such a wonderful time. There’s magic to be found in stories and I loved embracing the magic of it all. I especially loved that there was a glass slipper placed on the grand staircase, implying that perhaps a runaway princess had recently fled.

I would love to return in the summer as the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Festival takes place in the amphitheatre, and I would love to see the paper theatre museum which is currently being renovated. I would also love to see the castle grounds on a bright, sunny day.

We also visited the gold and silver museum in Hanau, which was lots of fun. I’m a big jewellery fan and I enjoy looking at different pieces so I enjoyed wandering through these exhibits. There are some stunning pieces of jewellery on display in this museum, and I loved seeing the artistic craftsmanship through time.

While in Frankfurt we visited some lovely restaurants. We loved IIMORI, a little café that was home to roses, books, and other sculptures. We enjoyed breakfast here. The croissants were delicious, and it was a beautiful spot. One of the best meals we had was at Jamy’s Burger. This restaurant was beautiful. The burgers were amazing, and if you go I cannot recommend the dirty fries enough. The cocktails were delicious as well as beautiful to look at, and the staff couldn’t have been nicer. The price was also very reasonable so win wins all round.

I think our favourite restaurant was a place called Panamaa. This place was a two minute walk outside the door of our hotel. We ate there twice and had quite a lot of drinks there. The atmosphere was lovely, the place was lit by candles, warm lights, and star fairy lights hung everywhere. This spot was slightly pricier, but if you’re looking for a romantic treat, it is ideal. If you like cosmopolitans, this is the place to order one.

On our last morning in Frankfurt we had breakfast at Kaffeehaus Goldene Waage, and it was amazing. This place was just beautiful. The decor made us feel like we had stepped back in time to a vintage tea house. The coffees and hot chocolates were rich and indulgent. The selection of cakes was unbelievable, everything looked delicious, and the outside of the building looked like a fairy tale building from a storybook. Nearly every single building in Frankfurt looks pretty, this is the lesson we learned. If you enjoy appreciating architecture then this is a city you need to visit.

Frankfurt is most definitely on my must visit again list. I want to go back and do the river cruise. I’d like to explore other museums, particularly the animation museum. I’d like to go back to visit the paper theatre museum, and I’d like to time my trip to align with the fairy tale festival and perhaps go on further to explore more of the fairy tale route.

I couldn’t have loved this trip more. It was the most incredible surprise.

I hope anyone who goes enjoys themselves as much as I did.

Make sure you follow me on Instagram @katelovesliterature if you don’t already for all updates about what is coming up next.

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Introducing Your Book or Mine?

Introducing Your Book or Mine?

Today’s piece is a bit different. I will be sharing my New York travel diary next week, and after that I will be sharing my Frankfurt travel diary so there are lots of literary adventures coming soon. If literary cities are your cup of tea then stay tuned, and if you have not already read my previous travel diaries, why not check them out now? I hope you’ll find some travel inspiration.

Today I am introducing a new literary project that I am very proud of.

If you follow me on Instagram you may already know my news…

Today is the official launch day of my brand new podcast Your Book or Mine?

I have co-created and I will co-host this brand new, book club podcast alongside my fellow book lover Seán. Each month we will be reading a different book, alternating between classics and new, modern reads to discuss on the podcast.

Our inaugural episode is officially OUT NOW on Spotify.

Listen here … https://open.spotify.com/show/4v4EUXExWofeK4NFhQMcVU

We’ve discussed the twists and turns of Jane Austen’s Emma, as this is a novel that is filled with gossip, scandal, secrets, heartbreak, and romance.

We hope you will #jointhebookclub and follow us on Instagram.

You can find us @yourbookorminepod

We hope you will read alongside us and let us know all of your thoughts on the book chats we’re having.

I’m very proud of this new project, and I’m so excited that the first episode is finally available for everyone to enjoy. A new episode will be airing once a month, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to discuss a broad range of brilliant books.

I love presenting and speaking about all things literature. At Beehive Books, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to host the ‘Interviews with Authors’ miniseries. Chatting to various authors about their books, published by Beehive Books, has been an excellent experience and you can tune in every other week on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/7r1cKcwvLTeAZ9opibdREc

I have wanted to create a literary podcast for a long time now, and I am so happy that I have found the perfect person to collaborate with. Seán is a fellow book lover, he is a fantastic writer, he has created videos about all forms of media on his YouTube channel @CicadaWave … He enjoys horror, ghost stories, classics, and anything with a touch of the macabre. Our different points of view, combined with our shared interests that have a great way of balancing each other out makes for a really fun, really interesting dynamic, and I look forward to co-hosting Your Book or Mine? with him this year.

I have a feeling that 2024 will be a great year. There are so many things that I am looking forward to, and many things that I am excited to do. I’ve received so much encouragement, support, and lovely feedback about the new podcast already. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out, you know who you are.

I hope you will all enjoy Your Book or Mine?

Join the book club. Follow us on Instagram. Listen on Spotify.

You can also get in touch – yourbookorminepodinfo@gmail.com

#JoinTheBookClub

2023: A Year of Wonder

2023: A Year of Wonder

A yearly review, by Kate O’Brien.

I can’t believe how quickly this year has passed by. I feel as though Christmas has come around so quickly this year, and I won’t complain as it is my favourite time of the year. 2023 has been filled with lots of love, lots of hard work, lots of fun, and of course lots of books!

It has been a special year for me. I feel incredibly lucky to say that it has been filled with personal and professional achievements that I am so proud of. I finished my master’s programme and now I can very proudly say that after lots of hard work, I have a master’s degree in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Encouraging a love of reading in young children is a particular passion of mine because I truly believe that a love of literature can open so many doors for us in life. It has been wonderful to see my passions paying off. I’ve really felt that all of the work that I’ve been doing for the last few years has started to pay off and have visible results in 2023.

I’ve had some brilliant opportunities this year. I’ve had the opportunity to attend lots of literary events. I’ve gotten to meet and interview several authors with Beehive Books. I had a fantastic time at Dublin Castle when I had the opportunity to work as a CBI Book Doctor at one of the wonderful CBI Book Clinics. I’ve continued to review books for Children’s Books Ireland, and I was delighted to see my reviews featured in this year’s CBI reading guide. I’ve received some beautiful books from HarperCollins Ireland. It was an honour and a dream come true to write an article all about the lifelong benefits of being a reader for writing.ie. I’ve continued to work on my own website Katelovesliterature.com, and if you’ve followed me for a while then you’ll already know that this is my passion project, and if all of that was not amazing enough, I’ve been working behind-the-scenes on a new, upcoming project that is launching in 2024. I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead and I can’t wait to share my news in the New Year.

To everyone who has followed along here and on Instagram/TikTok @katelovesliterature, I want to say thank you so much. Thank you for following along, for tuning in, for commenting, and for sending lovely messages. I’ve gotten to put a few faces to names this year at different book events and it has been really lovely to feel so welcomed in the Irish book community.

This will be my last piece published in 2023. I will be taking some time away from my laptop screen to enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities.

I am planning to publish my first piece of 2024 on January 12th. My first piece of 2024 will be my review of Gods Don’t Cry by Ellen Ryan.

I will still be active on Instagram over the next few weeks, as I will have fun sharing some festive snaps. Wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sending best wishes and good health to you all.

Thank you for reading.

Until January,

Kate xo