Tag: Monthly

Books That Matter – December 2020 Subscription Box

The December 2020 Books That Matter feminist subscription box has arrived! Warning – spoilers ahead for those of you waiting on your delivery.

The Box

The December box is themed ‘We glow through what we go through’ – nope, I’m not entirely sure what that really means either!

As usual, it is beautifully wrapped in pink tissue paper and features a range of gifts and a book of the month. This month’s contents are:

  • The book – ‘Delayed Rays of a Star’ by Amanda Lee Koe
  • A ‘Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021’ reflective journal
  • A metal keyring
  • A Teapigs uplifting tea bag
  • Joe and Seph’s Salted Caramel popcorn
  • Bookmark
  • ‘We glow through what we go through’ booklet

My Review

The book this month is one that I haven’t heard of, but it looks absolutely brilliant. I love the idea of the 1930s setting and the focus on the women involved in the film industry.

The journal isn’t one that I’d really use, but my daughter will so that is fine. It is beautifully produced and has lots of prompts for reflection. It is excellent quality, but just not really my thing.

The bookmark and keyring are lovely and will be used. The keyring in particular is lovely quality – made of a heavy metal and featuring the box theme.

The Teapigs tea is nice, although one tea bag feels a bit mean!

I really couldn’t get on with the popcorn – I’m not a fan of mixed sweet and savoury flavours – and I couldn’t even palm it off on my children, so this one isn’t a winner.

The booklet, produced by ‘Books That Matter’ and giving a bit of background information to the book and gifts featured in the box, is fine – it was interesting to flick through it but it is only a few pages.

The Verdict

I really love the book choice this month and it is something that I am interested in reading. However, the gifts don’t all hit the spot this time round which is a shame – but very much down to my personal preferences.

Overall, I still think this is worth the £20 a month (including postage) and it does feel like a treat every month.

Books That Matter – Subscription Box – October Review

I’ve been a subscriber to the ‘Books that Matter‘ feminist subscription box for about 6 months. I have to admit, a couple of other subscriptions have caught my eye recently (namely Bert’s Books and The Capital Crime Club), so I was keen to weigh up the options!

This month’s box arrived slightly less squashed than usual – always a bonus as the packaging box can be a bit flimsy (although the contents are usually just fine).

The theme of the box is ‘Season of the Witch’.

This month’s contents were:

  • ‘Frankissstein’ by Jeanette Winterson
  • A self-heating eye mask from spacemasks.com
  • A set of 3 no-snag fabric hairbands from Cabello Bands
  • A bookmark with a Mary Shelley quotation on
  • A Wellness Planner pad
  • A ‘Season of the Witch’ booklet with information about the box contributors

My Review

This is another great box from ‘Books that Matter’!

I absolutely love the book choice – I have actually read this book on NetGalley and adored it (you can read my review here) but it is great to have a proper copy. And it is beautiful – look at that pink cover!

Hairbands, bookmark and eye mask gratefully received – I will use them all and I am impressed with the quality of all these items.

The ‘Season of the Witch’ booklet is interesting and will be worth a browse.

The only item I’m not that excited about is the Wellness Planner as I can’t imagine I’ll use it. It is pretty and good quality, but just not for me.

My Verdict

Another excellent subscription box – my subscription is safe for another month and the others will just have to wait…

My only observation is that £20 (including postage) feels a bit expensive if there is one of the main items that I won’t use. Still, ‘Frankissstein’ has won me over this month.

Books That Matter – August Subscription Box Review

*SPOILER ALERT* Do not read if you are awaiting your own subscription box for this month!

This is my 4th month with ‘Books That Matter‘, the feminist subscription box that delivers a book and other treats to your door for the princely sum of £20 a month (including postage).

I’ll admit that I was sceptical about whether I’d get books I actually wanted to read (especially as I buy so many books) but 3/4 have been hits so far.

The Box

August’s box arrived, as they all do, having been well squashed by the postal service – the boxes are a bit flimsy, but the contents are usually just fine. As usual, everything is beautifully packed and opening the boxes is becoming a monthly treat.

Each of the monthly boxes is themed and this month is ‘Women of the World: Celebrating Women in Translation Month’ – a fab theme, I think, as I definitely am trying to read more from outside of my home nation, the UK.

August’s contents are:

  • The book ‘The Adventures of China Iron’ by Gabriela Cabezon Camara (translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre)
  • A sew-on woven patch, branded Betty Ratbag, plus a postcard of the same design
  • A Woman of the World cookie (by M and H Cake)
  • A tube containing a ‘Put Her on the Map’ mini-poster
  • A sticker and bookmark of this month’s theme
  • Two booklets – one about the box contents and the other about pioneering women from around the world
The contents of the box (except poster)

My Thoughts

I’m really pleased with this month’s book choice. I’d not heard of the book or the writer before, but it looks absolutely brilliant. Reading the opening pages has definitely made me want to read more and it is on an area of the world (Argentina) that I know very little about – another excellent reason to read on.

I love the design of the patch and postcard, but I’m really not sure what use I have for it. Maybe if I was younger and more rebellious, it would be perfect – as it is, I’m a 40 year old mum and teacher who can’t really wear patches with naked women on! I can only think it would be too distracting for my pupils and my own kids…

Let’s face it, cookies are always welcome!

As for the rest of the box, I can only say it is very papery… the items are well-designed and the booklets interesting. I can definitely always find a home for a bookmark and sticker, although I will struggle to know what to do with the booklets once I’ve glanced through them and the poster isn’t something I’d want to put up. All very interesting, but probably not items I’d want to keep longer term.

The mini-poster

The Verdict

A fabulous themed box with a great book choice. Worth the subscription fee although, for me, not all the items quite hit the spot. I’ll definitely keep subscribing next month!