Good evening all – welcome to this week’s Sunday Summary instalment! I hope you’ve had a good week?
If nothing else, mine has been a better one in terms of keeping up with blog commitments. My first post of the week was my book review of Becoming by Michelle Obama. I read this book a couple of years ago – that it coincidentally came around as due for review during Black History Month was ideal!
On Saturday, I shared my monthly wrap-up for February. I confess, reading this last month didn’t go as well as I hoped. If anything, the book I didn’t expect to love was one of my best pick-ups. What was more surreal to me was that I ended up DNFing half the TBR…
Books Read
A Promised Land
Listening progress with A Promised Land is up from last week’s two and a half hours. This week, I’ve knocked another 3 and a half hours of audio off the total time left.
I appreciate I’ve featured this book in quite a few Sunday Summaries now. However, it’s not a quick listen. Of the total 29 hours runtime, I have 11 hours and 20 minutes left. I envisage this book may feature for another couple of weeks; the closer I get to the end though, the more motivated I’ll be to get there!
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get on with this book. That I’ve picked it up in audio format, and before Barack narrates it himself, makes it a more enjoyable listen.
The Da Vinci Code
I read another 10% of The Da Vinci Code last week before DNFing it ahead of our book club meet. As I shared in yesterday’s monthly wrap-up post, I didn’t like the tone and I felt the story too ‘clever’ and farfetched.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
The final book I started this week is Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. It’s the second book of her Legacy of Orisha series.
It’s been a long while since I picked up the first book, Children of Blood and Bone. As a result, I’ve not really gotten into the book that easily. The storyline is okay, but I’m not feeling the same love that I had for the first book. I’m about 20% in so far and I’m going to persevere a little longer. I just hope it picks up and doesn’t end up being my fourth DNF of the year…
Books Discovered
I’ve been good again this week – no news is good news!
Coming Up…
With the beginning of a new month comes a new TBR. Fingers crossed I have better luck with the list I set myself for March. If you want to find out which books I plan to pick up in the next few weeks, you don’t have long to wait.
On Friday, I’ll get to that Shelf Control post I missed a few weeks ago! It’ll be good to take a look at my TBR again and whittle down any books I’m not interested in anymore and feature one I am.
Finally, this time next week I’ll return with my next Sunday Summary. Hopefully I’ll have some more positive reading news to share…
That’s all for today’s Sunday Summary update! Have a good one and I’ll see you in the next post!
We’re now two full months into 2025. I want to get in nice and early with my monthly wrap-up for February to update you on the books I picked up, and in some cases put down, during the last month.
One of my main reading goals for February was to pick up books around the theme of Black History Month. Not all of my books fit into this category, as they were either carryovers from January or I had to read them for other commitments. How I did with February’s TBR surprised me; there were books I wasn’t sure about that but I’ve gone on to really enjoy, yet equally there are books I thought I’d get on with, but didn’t.
Shall we get into this monthly wrap-up so you can see just how this month has gone?
Books Read
A Darkness at Sethanon
A Darkness at Sethanon was a carryover from January‘s TBR. I was just a couple of chapters in at the point of setting this book on my February monthly TBR.
Admittedly, I didn’t get much further than that before I put it down. Although I had recapped myself on events so far in the series, I was struggling to get into it. If I’m entirely honest, I didn’t love the books before this one. They were okay to read, but I didn’t have any burning desire to pick up this last instalment. If anything, I was motivated to try so I could mark the series as complete.
However, I decided it wasn’t worth slogging through this book in order to give myself that accolade. I have now finished this series, but it has a DNF as opposed to a completion.
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia
A few weeks ago, I started listening to Fearing the Black Body. I ended up listening to this audiobook over the course of a weekend. I didn’t expect to love this book in the way that I did. It was really interesting, and I liked how the book was broken down and considered different ideas and arguments. I wouldn’t say this book is to be taken as gospel. However, it does consider some interesting ideas on why racism could play a role in our current culture’s fat phobia.
I wouldn’t describe this as a book that I would typically read. However, I’m glad I did. It’s a good way to get an alternate perspective on things, as well as consider things from a non-racial perspective as well. In addition to the race argument, the author also offers religion as a possible source of some of the negativity around larger bodies too.
A Promised Land
The second audiobook I picked up this month, and admittedly I’m still reading as of this monthly wrap-up post, is A Promised Land by Barack Obama. If there’s one book on this TBR I thought I was at risk of DNFing, it was this one. In truth, it’s one of the books I’m enjoying the most this month.
Politics is a subject that is out of my comfort zone. My overarching opinion generally of politicians is that they don’t achieve anything for the masses. instead, they use their office to promote their own self interest. I can be forgiven for this view when you consider the amount of cronyism that gets highlighted on the news.
So far, I don’t find Barack to be your typical politician. My overall perception of Barack Obama when he was in office was that he was a decent president.
Listening to his book, I still have this view. I’ve enjoyed listening to some of his insights on what his priorities were as a president. He also covers a number of different unplanned situations he had to deal with in office.
Naturally, this book is far more involved to the likes of Michelle Obama’s Becoming in describing the politics of his life. He’s not averse to making jabs here and there against other parties and individuals, but for the most part I’m getting on with the book well.
The only reason I’m still listening to this audiobook at the end of February is because it is so long! The audiobook is just over 29 hours long. As a drafting this post, I have just under 12 and a half hours left to listen to.
In Every Mirror She’s Black
Another read I intended to complete as part of this February TBR relating to Black History Month is In Every Mirror She’s Black. A few years ago I acquired my copy of the book in a Waterstones sale after Christmas. I liked the sound of the book and I thought it was going to have something quite prominent to say when it comes to race – how seemingly different black women end up experiencing the same treatment in life.
However, having gotten a third into this book, I still couldn’t tell where the storyline was intending to take us or what message it was trying to put out. So, I decided to DNF it. I was bored. The plot was meandering between the three female perspectives and not really giving any context as to what it was trying to say. Nothing significant was happening and I wasn’t enjoying reading it.
It’s a shame, because I think it could’ve been a good book if it started to get to its point a little quicker.
The Da Vinci Code
If you are a regular reader, you will know that I host a book club at work. We meet once a month, typically towards the end of a month, and discuss a book of a members choice.
A couple of months ago, we came up with the idea of reading The Da Vinci Code. Some members had already read the book a long time ago, whereas others like myself had not read it before. It sounded like a good book for discussion, so we decided to pick that up.
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t like this one either. I read 29% of the book before I DNF this one too. Whilst I enjoyed the ideas of symbolism and the murder mystery aspect of the storyline, I felt overall that it was a very pretentious book. There is a lot of detail on symbolism and at times, I felt the narrative was talking down to me to have to explain some of it. I also found the idea of these clues being left for Robert too far-fetched.
In principle, one of the characters had approximately 15 minutes to lay down all these clues before he passed away from a fatal injury in order to point Robert to his murderer. After discussions with another book club member, there are perhaps reasons why this was plausible for the character to do given his position and preplanning for such an eventuality. However, it just felt far-fetched to me and I wasn’t a fan of the tone of the book.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Lastly, we get to the final book of my February TBR, Children of Virtue and Vengeance. I am still reading this book as of publishing this monthly wrap-up post, but I confess I’m not loving this one either. At this point, I don’t think it’s the fault of the book, but more to do with the fact that I’m in a reading funk.
As of this monthly wrap up post, I’m 20% into the book and I’m going to keep going with it for now. I probably not help myself in that it’s been a good number of years since I read the first book of the series. I have recapped myself on events, But leaving it so long is probably acting as a blocker helping me immerse myself back into the storyline.
Summary
It’s fair to say that reading progress in February didn’t end up going so well. Whilst I have read some enjoyable books in the month, I DNF’d three books – basically half the list!
I may need to reconsider my reading plans for March to help get myself out of whatever reading funk I’m in right now.
Thanks for reading today’s monthly wrap-up! Have you read any great books recently that you can recommend to help?
Today’s book review is a topical one given its Black History Month. It’s also a pure coincidence that timing-wise, it’s come around now for review. I read this book a couple of years ago because it was also Black History Month at the time. I’m not much of a seasonal reader, and that’s something that’s probably going to change this year. That’s why I’ve picked up the likes of Barack Obama‘s A Promised Land and Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi this month.
Today though, we’re not talking about Barack Obama or my other current reads. Instead, we are looking to Michelle Obama‘s memoir, Becoming.
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir; 17 million copies sold worldwide
Now in paperback featuring a new introduction by Michelle Obama, a letter from the author to her younger self, and a book club guide with 20 discussion questions and a 5-question Q&A, the intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it — in her own words and on her own terms.
Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations — and whose story inspires us to do the same.
My Thoughts
Naturally, Michelle Obama’s life experience overlaps that of the presidency and being the first lady, but that does not define her identity. If Becoming taught me anything, it’s that Michelle didn’t want to feel bound by those restrictions and is far more than a prominent man’s right hand.
But first, we ought to go back to the beginning. Becoming tells the candid story of Michelle‘s upbringing in Southside Chicago. It covers race, naturally, as well as class differences; how she and her family fought against prejudice on a daily basis to make their own way in the world. Sadly, it’s a story I’m sure many can relate to. It’s a difficult topic to talk about, because it feels like I don’t have the authority to. As somebody who didn’t grow up in similar shoes to Michelle, I can’t imagine what it’s like to have to fight for everything you have. Even still, I was able to put myself in Michelle’s position and understand the difficulties she went through. She does a fantastic job of being able to translate her life experiences into one that everyone can imagine and sympathise with.
Of course, though, Michelle in her lifetime went from a reasonably regular life with its struggles – family, career and then having and juggling children on top, to being the First Lady. I didn’t particularly get the vibe from Becoming that Michelle didn’t like politics as much as Barack implies in A Promised land. Instead, she talks about her priority of making sure the children stayed out of the limelight and lived a normal lives themselves. She also talks about charitable works she championed whilst ‘in office’.
If her memoir tells us readers anything, it’s that Michelle is a considerate and well-rounded woman. She has excelled in every role life has thrown at her – being a woman, a career lawyer and mother, before turning her attention to charitable works and supporting youth as First Lady.
Summary
Although I’m not one for politics really, Becoming doesn’t really touch on this aspect of Michelle’s life. If you want to touch on the family of the Obama’s without the political element, Becoming is a great read. It’s also an interesting read if you want to see what hard work and determination can get you – even against the odds.
***This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. Note that if you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.
If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***
Happy Sunday folks – I’m back with this week’s Sunday Summary post! I hope you’ve had a good week?
Overall, mine has been pretty good. I’ve had a few bits on, but nothing wild. I’ve had fewer social plans than last week, but also more than I expected. As a result, I haven’t picked up my current reads as much as I thought I would. More on that in a minute. First, let’s recap the blog posts, or rather post (singular), I shared this week.
My first and only post that went live this week, before today that is, is a Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s topic was books I’ve never reviewed. Whilst I did just about scrape ten, it’s fair to say I review the vast majority of what I read!
I was supposed to share a Shelf Control post on Friday. However, I confess I completely forgot about it until Saturday afternoon. Sorry folks, I have a goldfish brain…
Books Read
A Promised Land
Last week I boasted over seven hours of audiobook progress. This week, it’s a more modest two and a half hours.
But you know what, progress is progress. I won’t knock it. I’m enjoying listening to Barack Obama’s A Promised Land. I wasn’t sure what I expected to take from this book, but I’m liking it a lot more than I anticipated.
Things have gotten a little more political in what I’ve listened to this week, but it’s been okay to listen to. I’ve been able to follow what’s going on, with the odd bit of Googling terms to make sure I’m understanding everything. Until this, I’ve never paid attention to politics…
In Every Mirror She’s Black
After progressing with another 70 pages of In Every Mirror She’s Black this week, I DNF’d it at 33%.
If I’m entirely honest with you, I was bored. The storyline didn’t seem to be going anywhere meaningful and I wasn’t getting any enjoyment or enlightenment from it. If the book has a message, it takes its time getting there. I ran out of patience for it.
It’s my first DNF in a while. It’s a shame, but I’m not going to slog through a book I don’t like either. I have better things to do.
The Da Vinci Code
With the deadline for reading The Da Vinci Code fast approaching, I made it a priority to start this week. Book club meets next week to discuss the book. As of this post, I’m 20% into it.
I’ve mixed feelings on the book. I’m intrigued as to who is behind the murder. At the same time, though, I can’t shake my first impression that the narrative feels pretentious. There’s a lot of info dropping on cryptology and symbolism, as well as art particularly. No doubt it’s needed for the narrative, but the way it’s done doesn’t strike me as treating the reader as an equal. It feels like it’s talking down to me.
I’m going to stick with the book and read as much as I can before Wednesday. I’m not likely to finish it before we meet. Honestly, I won’t feel too hard up on being spoiled if I don’t either…
Books Discovered
There aren’t any new acquisitions to let you know about this week ☺️
Coming Up…
My first post of the week will be a book review. It’s been a couple of weeks since I shared my thoughts on Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. Next, I plan to share my review of Becoming by Michelle Obama. Ironic timing, but maybe it’s a good thing! And, it’s also topical considering it’s Black History Month!
On Saturday, I’ll share my monthly wrap-up for February. In that post, I’ll take you through the books I read throughout this month and recap what I thought of them.
Finally, I’m back this time next week with my usual Sunday Summary recap. I’ll let you know how I get on with my current reads, as well as what’s coming up on the blog over the next week.
Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary update. Until my next post, I hope you have a great week!
If there’s one thing that’s apparent on this Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’ve Never Reviewed post, it’s that the books fall into one of two categories.
I’m proud to say that in the grand scheme of things, I review the vast majority of books I read. There are some I haven’t reviewed dating back to pre-blog days. Maybe I’ll re-read and review some of those whilst they are fresh in my memory. It wouldn’t feel fair to it now when it’s been over 10 years since I picked the books up.
The two categories the remaining books fall into are either those I feel indifferent over, or those I’m intimidated to even try to review!
Shall we take a look at what falls where?
Books I’m Indifferent About
Empress of All Seasons
My overall recollection on this book is one of general enjoyment, but nothing stands out In my head as to why I liked this book.
The Ruby in the Smoke
Nothing smacks harder of indifference than not actually being able to remember a single thing about this book or anything that happened in it.
Yikes.
Vox
On a different note, I do remember the plot and premise of Vox. I did enjoy the book, but as a feminist fiction, I feel it could have leant a little harder into the subject than it did.
Jack the Ripper: Case Closed
I like Jack the Ripper books and stories, but this audiobook just felt a bit ‘meh’. It’s very hard to write a review and talk about a book when you really don’t have a lot to say about it.
Scouse Gothic
If I recall correctly, the author sent me a copy of this book after I read another of his. It was a book I read at my own leisure rather than for review. It was an okay read, if a bit out of my comfort zone. I didn’t have anything especially to say about it then and neither do I now.
You Are Not so Smart
All I recall from this book is a bunch of surprising facts, interlaced with humour. It was a good and informative read, but I certainly don’t have enough to say about it to be able to draft a post dedicated to it.
It’s interestingly the only non-fiction to feature in this Top Ten Tuesday.
The Cockroach
This political satire is a short book I was recommended by someone I used to work for. It was an interesting and different short story to read. Again, there’s no way I’d be able to justify a review for it.
Books I’m Intimidated to Review
Blackwing
I’ve read and reviewed both Ravencry and Crowfall as part of blog tours. I read the first book in the series, Blackwing, to catch up on the book ready to review Ravencry.
Since I’ve loved the books so much (that I’ve already re-read them within just a few years), any future review has very big shoes to fill.
Godsgrave
In a bit of an admin oversight, I reviewed the first and final book of this trilogy on my blog, but not Godsgrave. I’m not sure how I managed that, but there we go!
Like Blackwing, I’m intimidated at the prospect of approaching this review. I adored this series – it’s what got me into Jay Kristoff’s books in the first place. Can I do the book justice and convince readers it lives up to the hype?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
I’m intimidated to review The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time because it’s such a well-known classic! The truth is, I’m probably missing a trick here. Reviews on my blog for classic or popular books, including The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are why my blog gets as many views as it does nowadays (over 71,000 in 2024).
Maybe I need to just bite the bullet and have a go!
Summary
Thanks for reading today’s Top Ten Tuesday post. Have you read and reviewed any of the books I feature in this Top Ten Tuesday instalment? I’d love to read your thoughts if you have!
This Sunday Summary post can only mean one thing – the end of another week has rolled around. Doesn’t the time fly?
It’s been a busy week as well! So much so, I’ve only really got the bulk of my reading done this weekend. However, I have managed to make a solid amount of progress. Before we get to that though, here is a recap of the blog posts I have shared so far this week.
First on the list is my TBR book tag post. I had originally intended to share this post on Wednesday, but it ended up being delayed until Thursday. It was a good, fun post to write and it will probably give you some insight into some of the books on my TBR and how long they’ve been there…
Next up was my First Lines Friday post. In the absence of being able to pick a Valentine’s themed book, I instead focused on one that I need to pick up, like, now.
Books Read
A Promised Land
Over the course of this weekend, I have listened to 7 hours and 40 minutes of Barack Obama‘s A Promised Land. Even still, combining this with last week’s reading progress of around four hours, I’m still less than halfway through this audiobook!
It’s a sizable book, but one that I’ve been able to chip away at and listen to quite easily. I’ve spent a lot of this weekend home alone, so between doing chores around the house and other hobbies, I’ve been able to listen to this audio at the same time.
For the most part, this has worked quite well. There have been a few sections of the audio where I’ve wanted to pay a little bit more attention to what Barack has been trying to explain. There are a couple of points where I rewound and relisten to small sections without the distraction of another task so I can follow what’s being said. However, these are few and far between. They’ve centred around a topic I already have some prior knowledge of; I wanted to understand the detail from an alternate perspective.
I’m looking forward to continuing on with this listen over the next week. For a book that on paper shouldn’t be my cup of tea, it’s going down very nicely.
In Every Mirror She’s Black
The second book to update you on in this Sunday Summary is one I just started last week. I haven’t picked up In Every Mirror She’s Black that frequently this weekend. However, I read another 70 pages yesterday whilst waiting for and at a hair appointment and 20 more tonight before publishing this post.
I still consider myself getting into the storyline at the moment. I don’t really know what to make of the characters or how the story is going to come together. I’m going to keep on with it, because the narrative itself is quite easy to read. If the plot doesn’t get more engaging though, I may make a decision on whether I continue with the book in the next few days.
I guess you’ll have to find out next week how I get on with this book. I’ll be making more of an effort to pick this up in the evenings as my social plans aren’t quite so busy.
Books Discovered
I only have one notable book to share with you this week, and it’s one that’s actually already on my TBR. I was gifted a hardcover special edition copy of The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. It’s a bonus that I plan on reading this first book soon anyway!
Although I haven’t received or acquired any other books in themselves this week, I have added considerably to my book voucher collection. I’m trying not to let them burn a hole in my pocket though…
Coming Up…
The first post I plan to share next week is a Top Ten Tuesday post. The feature of this week’s post is books that I’ve never reviewed. I have quite the backlog, but even before that, there are books I’ve chosen not to review. There are also books I read in my teenage years that I’ve not re-read or featured on my blog since. Expect those to feature on Tuesday.
On Friday, it’s the turn of my Shelf Control post. In this fortnightly series, I feature upcoming books on my TBR and why I’m still looking forward to reading them.
Lastly, I’ll be back at the same time next week with my Sunday Summary update. As always, I’m here to update you on the books I’ve been reading over the week, as well as giving you the intel on what’s coming up very soon! I hope you can join me!
This week’s First Lines Friday post is a week later than intended. I didn’t get around to drafting this post last week. Even now, it is comparatively late for me to be drafting this post for this week. It’s been a busy week of plans, but I have managed to make time to squeeze this in.
This week’s featured book is one I need to get my skates on and pick up soon. I have a deadline to pick this up later this month. Can you guess what it is based on what I’m reading this month?
Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum’s Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio. Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Saunière collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas.
As he had anticipated, a thundering iron gate fell nearby, barricading the entrance to the suite. The parquet floor shook. Far off, an alarm began to ring.
The curator lay a moment, gasping for breath, taking stock. I am still alive. He crawled out from under the canvas and scanned the cavernous space for somewhere to hide.
Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum. Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes.
As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo da Vinci – and suggests the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vault of history.
Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever…
My Thoughts…
Dan Brown and his The Da Vinci Code, amongst other books, are well-known names. I believe it’s rare to go into a charity shop and not trip over multiple copies of this book. Despite being well known, as of this first line is a Friday post, I have yet to pick up the book for myself. That needs to change soon. I will work book clubs are reviewing The Da Vinci Code in just a couple of weeks. So, I need to get my skates on.
Well, although I’ve never read this particular book before, I’m not going into a completely blind. I have watched a TV series based on this book. I can’t remember if I watched it to completion or not, but I certainly have an idea of the storyline from what I’ve seen on TV.
The great thing about book clubs is that you get a range of ideas and perspectives from chatting about the chosen book. I believe this book has some controversy around it, so I don’t know if that will feed into our conversation about the book or not. Before we get there though, I need to actually pick it up for myself!
That’s all for today’s First Lines Friday! Have you read any other books by Dan Brown, or The Da Vinci Code?
In today’s TBR book tag post, I’m sharing some fun content. Now and then, I like to break up my reviews and reading progress updates. Today, I’m sharing some books on my TBR and tips on how I keep on top of it (ha!).
I found this TBR book tag over on Pastmidnights.com and I thought it was a fun break from my usual content.
How do you keep track of your TBR?
I have used Goodreads to track my reading list since I really started getting back into reading in 2017.
I have tried other trackers like StoryGraph before. However, because I’m so used to Goodreads, I didn’t really get on with it. It would also be such a project to make the transition that I don’t really have the energy for it. Plus, there’s nothing I dislike about Goodreads either. I know some people like to stay away from it because of its affiliation with Amazon. It works for me though…
Is your TBR mostly print or e-books?
I have a number of books across all formats – physical, e-book, and audiobook. However, I’d say the e-book collection is by far the largest.
Arguably, it’s the more convenient format to have books in. It doesn’t take up physical space in the house, which is the most premium resource I have. Not that you’d know it from the stack of books that can’t fit on my existing bookshelves…
How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
It honestly depends.
Sometimes, very occasionally, I’ll have a reading theme. Take this month for example – Black History Month. If I want to pick up books on or around this topic, it’s a much smaller pool to choose from than the 200+ on my list.
Most of the time though, it’s what I feel like reading. I have some broader reading goals of finishing series. That usually bumps books up the list a bit. Occasionally, I’ll mood read and pick up whatever I want. I can judge that either by synopsis or genre. There isn’t really any rhyme or reason here.
Finally, I might just curveball and pick up something not on the list. Be that for book club or any other reason, I just keep myself on my toes.
A book that’s been on your TBR the longest
The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss – there is another question about unpublished books below in which I feature another I cannot wait to get to. This unpublished book features here though as it is literally the oldest book on my TBR by ‘date added’ and there is nothing I can do about it!
A book you recently added to your TBR
I added A Man Called Ove as I love the idea of the character. Although I’m not anywhere near the main character’s demographic (neither male – I hope not shocking news…, or of the elderly generation), I can sympathise with this character.
A book on your TBR you strictly bought because of the beautiful cover
Orbital is a fairly recent purchase. However, the cover caught my eye and then I rationalised that some shorter fiction on my TBR isn’t a bad thing!
A book on your TBR you never actually plan on reading
Um… none really? I don’t add books to the list if I don’t have any intention of reading them. That may change over time and I take something off the list as I no longer want to read it. But, there’s no point adding something I don’t want to read!
An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for
The Winds of Winter is the most anticipated new release on my TBR. The only problem is, I’m getting increasingly worried that this sequel is still a long way off!
A book on your TBR basically everybody has read but you
I’ve put Throne of Glass on my TBR as a way of trying Sarah J. Maas. I’m not sure I’ll like all her books, but this is the series I’ve been recommended as having the most storyline sans romance to it.
A book on your TBR that everyone recommends
I’d have to go for The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang – ironic as I have just been gifted a fancy edition of the book!
A book on your TBR that you’re just dying to read
I’m not one for anticipating new releases much. However, I grew up reading The Hunger Games. I’m looking forward to the prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, coming out. It’s the story of Haymitch’s games. He’s a rich character in the later books; I’m interested to see what happened to him to get himself in such a sorry state!
The number of books on your Goodreads Shelf
As of publishing this post, the Goodreads list is 214 books long.
Please send help!
Thanks for checking out today’s TBR book tag post!
It’s the end of the week, friends, so it can only mean that it’s time for my regular Sunday Summary update. As always, I hope you’ve had a great week and are looking forward to the next!
What have I been up to this week? I’ve only posted two out of the three blog posts I planned up until this Sunday Summary. The first of those posts was my monthly TBR for February. If you’re intrigued to see which books I’ve got lined up for the month, take a look.
Next, I shared a review of a young adult science-fiction novel told in a mixed-media format. If you have yet to read Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, I set out in this post why you should!
I was supposed to post a First Lines Friday later in the week. However, I confess I didn’t get time to draft this beforehand, and I was out with friends on Friday night until about 9:30 p.m. After that, I didn’t have much time at home before going to bed ready for an early start the next day. I didn’t want to spend that time blogging and not with Shane; having not seen him all day already, that would’ve been selfish. So, you’ll just have to hang on till next week for that post.
Books Read
A Darkness at Sethanon
I confess that I’ve barely picked up A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist this week.
If I’m entirely honest, the introduction hasn’t gripped me in the way I’d hoped. Combine that with a fairly neutral opinion of the series as a whole, and you’ll maybe see why I’ve not had the same drive to pick it up.
On the one hand, I am not prepared to abandon it entirely yet. I’ve not given it a good chance to get going, but also it would mean abandoning a series with just one book left. Instead, I think I will pick up something else in the meantime and try and come back to A Darkness at Sethanon.
A Promised Land
Better progress has been made with A Promised Land by Barack Obama. On the one hand, this is surprising. I’m not one for taking an interest in politics or going out of my way to read about it. However, I’m making an exception for Barack Obama. I like him on the whole, and I also like this as an audiobook because Barack narrates it himself.
It feels so much more like an intimate story of being told about his life as opposed to it being narrated to me impartially by someone else. I’m glad I picked this up in audio format as it’s the kind of content I can listen to quite easily.
Over the course of the week, I have listened to just under four hours of his book so far. It’s a 29-hour affair in total, so I still have a long way to go! However, I’m engaged, and that was always going to be the deciding factor in whether I stuck with A Promised Land or not.
In Every Mirror She’s Black
Instead of A Darkness at Sethanon, I picked up and read the first 30 pages of In Every Mirror She’s Black this evening. Broadly speaking, I’m getting on better with it. I’m still just getting introduced to the characters and what is going on; but I’m intrigued by the overlap in each of the three main character storylines and where they will progress.
Obviously, just scratching the surface of this book, there is very little I can say right now. What I will say is that this book is going to be my priority over the next week. Maybe then I’ll pick up A Darkness at Sethanon for a second go.
Books Discovered
Since I have acquired a number of books lately, I’ve behaved and not added to the TBR this week.
Coming Up…
The first post of next week will be a book tag which centres on my TBR! Just about everyone knows it’s long enough to warrant some attention. It’ll be nice to post something lighthearted and fun too!
This week’s planned First Lines Friday will be coming to you best week instead. It would be cheesy and difficult for me to try and find a Valentine’s-themed book. But hey, maybe that’s a challenge I can take on? I might struggle, but I’ll have a go.
Finally, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary update post for you. Fingers crossed I’ll have more in the way of reading updates for you ☺️
Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary update! Have a great week, and I’ll see you in the next one.
In today’s book review, I share my thoughts on a young adult mixed-media book I really enjoyed! The best part is, Illuminae is the start of a trilogy. Therefore, fans of this first book will be pleased to know that the saga continues; book two is largely set around different characters, and book three brings them all together for an epic conclusion.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning…
The internationally and New York Times bestselling first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.
Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents, Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy.
My Thoughts
Plot
Well, I say let’s start at the beginning, but actually the book begins near the end. In the courtroom, with us readers almost as one of the jury, Kady, Ezra, and many characters we meet along the way present their case against Beitech Corporation.
Greedy corporations remain at large in this fictional world. Beitech are accused of killing and displacing many of the characters within this first book when attacking their home planet in favour of gaining resources. From there, it’s a mad scramble for civilian survival. And the clock is ticking…
Not for one moment can we accuse this novel of lacking in action. For fans of an action-driven plot, this will appeal to you for its time-pressured and high-stakes drama.
Naturally, I can’t say too much as I don’t want to give away any aspects of the storyline (either in Illuminae or in the subsequent books). Just take my word for it that it’s amazing and go and read it!
Characters
A number of characters contribute to the overall storyline within. Not only is this a multiple-perspective book, but it’s also a multiple-media book. In that regard, this appealed to me as I enjoy seeing things from a variety of perspectives. That naturally fits with this narrative and media type well. One person can’t be everywhere at once, and with so many elements going into the storyline, we need everybody’s perspective in order to paste together the final picture.
The primary perspectives are that of Kady Grant and Ezra Mason. If you enjoy teenagers who totally dig each other but you know, aren’t in a relationship, then you’ll like these pair. Personally, I liked both perspectives but not necessarily for their romance or relationship with each other. That’s not to say I wasn’t rooting for them reuniting though.
If I had to say which aspect of the book leaned most heavily towards making this a young adult book, it is the characters. This plotline could be set with much older characters and sit well in the adult genre.
Setting
Illuminae is set across several intergalactic places. Thankfully for readers, it’s very obvious where things are going on with location and timestamps where applicable. The nature of the story and following that characters means that things are pretty chronological and don’t jump around too much either.
Set in our nearish future, it doesn’t feel too far-fetched. Although the idea of living in space probably feels a bit off, I think the technology available feels largely reminiscent of what we have today. It’s only a small leap for mankind – excuse the pun.
If you enjoy reading or watching science fiction, then reading Illuminae won’t be too far of a stretch. Even if you aren’t that imaginative when it comes to imagining the spaceship layout or dynamics of what’s going on, this book is very good at illustrating that for you. Literally. I remember technical diagrams of each of the ships. It makes it a very easy narrative to get on with.
Narrative Style
Told in a mixed-media format, this book is great for readers who have short attention spans or benefit from short, snappy content.
With everything from transcripts to posters and images, the action is spread across a variety of media that keeps us engaged. It’s a fun way of telling the story too. With the science-fiction slant on the narrative, it helps circumnavigate any understanding issues and makes the content more applicable to its intended younger audience.
Because of its format, I was able to read a large quantity of page count without too much effort. The constantly changing content types kept me reading on just that little bit longer and kept me engaged with the storyline throughout.
Summary
Regardless of whether you are a fan of the young adult genre, or even the science-fiction genre, I cannot recommend Illuminae enough. It’s a great introduction to reading something a little different. With plenty of action to keep readers’ attention, combined with a variety of mixed media to help with understanding and engagement, Illuminae is a fabulous start to a series I have since gone on to read voraciously and enjoy!
Have you read Illuminae or any other books by Jay Kristoff or Amie Kaufman?
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir
Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum’s Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio. Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Saunière collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas. 
move.’
Genre: Science Fiction
Top 1% in Epic