Good evening friends and welcome to another Sunday Summary update from yours truly. It doesn’t feel like I have a whole lot to update you on this week. But, we’re both here so let’s make the most of it!
Earlier this week I shared some of my bookish confessions. Whilst I think some of these could be expected from me, there are some here that don’t fit the typical ‘book-blogger’ persona too.
Now, let’s take a look at the books I’ve read this week.
Books Read
The Lost Apothecary
I was hoping for completion of The Lost Apothecary this week. However, I’ve had to extend my library loan once again.
That’s entirely down to circumstance and reflection on the book at all. We’ve been really quite short staffed at work this week and I’ve been covering and plugging gaps wherever possible. As a result, my downtime has ended up being spent on mindless things to take a break. I’ve not read a whole lot as a result.
I have read some more of the book today so as of this Sunday Summary update, I’m now 86% into The Lost Apothecary. I’m hoping for a nice quiet evening, so may get a little further into the book before the end of the day. Maybe a finish?
Defiant
As of my last Sunday Summary, I was about an hour and a half into Defiant by Brandon Sanderson.
It’s much the same story with audio – I’ve only listened to half an hour of Defiant this week. I’m enjoying the storyline so far and where it’s going. I’ve just not had the mental energy after work to listen and concentrate on it…
Books Discovered
Updates on additions to my reading list are as quiet as my actual reading progress this week. At least that’s not a bad thing!
Coming Up…
I’ll kick off this week with a Top Ten Tuesday post. I’ve shared a few similar posts before as they relate to my seasonal TBR’s. My last was my 2024 Summer TBR and it’s a great way to share planned upcoming reads.
Finally, next week I am hoping for a more interesting and eventful Sunday Summary to share with you! Things are going to get a bit better at work, but we do have quarter end coming up too. Hopefully it won’t be too busy this time round.
Until Tuesday, have a great one and I’ll see you in that post!
Happy Sunday readers – I’m back with my usual Sunday Summary update! As always, I hope you’ve had a great week?
This week has been a little unusual in that I’ve not really stuck to the regular schedule. On Wednesday morning I took part in a charity event for work that saw me helping to cut down around 150 pine trees. on Thursday I attended one of my school friends weddings, which was really special to share with them.
Combine both of these with a busy week at work and it’s fair to say my plans have been a little affected as a result. I was still able to share my book review for Dark Matter with you, but that came later than intended. I ended up publishing that one on Friday if you’re interested to check it out!
Books Read
The Lost Apothecary
I haven’t read as much of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner as I thought I would this week. That’s because of those aforementioned changes to my schedule, if you will.
That said, I have read around 40% of the book so far this week, bringing me up to 60% progress in total as of drafting this Sunday Summary. Thankfully, I have been able to extend my digital loan of the book and I still have opportunity to progress with it today. I’m hoping to read more of this and see what starting to unfold in the plot it’s definitely getting interesting!
Defiant
As of my last Sunday Summary update, I had just started Defiant by Brandon Sanderson. Have been listening to more of this book this week, clocking in another hour and a half of listening time.
Already I feel we are getting stuck into the action, so I’m surprised I’m not as far along as I expected given the events. I suppose that can only mean that there is plenty more of it to follow – and I’m looking forward to reading it!
Books Discovered
It’s another week of no news being good news. I’ve not seen anything new or added any new books to the reading list this week!
Thank goodness for that…
Coming Up…
I’m sticking to my slightly reduced schedule next week as it’s going to be busy at work and I need to continue on with studying for an exam.
In an attempt to share some different content with you next week, I’ll be sharing a bookish confessions post with you next week. What are your bookish confessions? You’ll have to stay tuned to see what mine are!
As usual, my last post of the week will be another Sunday summary weekly update.
That’s all for me and today’s Sunday Summary post and I hope to see you around very soon!
Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.
Before he awakes to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.
Before the man he’s never met smiles down at him and says, ‘Welcome back.’
In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.
In this other life, Jason has created a box. Transport into infinite alternate universes – every possible outcome of his life, one behind each door. In this other life, Jason chose a door. And he stole the life he wanted.
If Jason Dessen wants his life back, he will have to find it among infinite possibilities. And he will have to battle a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe: himself.
My Thoughts
Plot
I really enjoyed Dark Matter for its interesting and twisty plot. If you read the synopsis after the book, you can see just how it fits so well to what happens. It’s clever in that it doesn’t really give it away either, so I’m impressed.
If I told you that the overarching plot involved some degree of quantum physics and parallel universes, your brain may instinctively want to back away and hide in the nearest hole. However, please do not let that intimidate you.
This is included in the storyline in the absolute best ways. There isn’t too much detail or advanced knowledge needed to understand the premise. In my opinion, it is balanced perfectly so that the subject is approachable by readers of all levels and not limited to science nerds of the century.
And if you enjoy the kind of rabbit hole of thinking what would happen if each of these parallel universes interact with each other, then you are going to have a field day!
Characters
I liked Jason’s character and he was interesting throughout the book. Throughout the book, we see multiple versions of Jason and what would’ve happened if he had taken different paths in life.
Developing one character to such an extent that they can uphold a main character role is enough of the challenge without then having to develop them further and think about how different they could be in different circumstances. Crouch did this very well as I found all versions of Jason intriguing to read about.
But of course, he is not the only character in this book. Although a lot of time and effort must’ve gone into developing Jason as a character, that’s not happened at the expense for the characters. There is naturally a full cast to get to know over the course of the book and how they each play their part in the overall storyline.
Setting
Even though the narrative deals in quantum physics and alternate realities, I was able to keep track of where we were throughout the book.
Dark Matter is clever in that it touches on this topic for a good deal of the narrative, but not in such a technical way to intimidate readers. If you can read books like Stephen Baxter’s The Long Earth, I’d say it’s on par with that.
Narrative Style
Dark Matter is nice and easy to read. With enough going on in the plot, the really easy to understand and follow narrative style compliments perfectly.
I read the book over the course of just over a week. I admit that it’s difficult to remember exact details given I read this book about two years ago now. At the same time, the overarching impression of my experience of the book is a great one. I loved picking this up at every opportunity I could.
Summary
If you love the idea of this kind of plotline but have reservations on the subject matter, please let me reassure you that it is well suited to readers of all levels. However, if you really can’t get yourself past the idea of trying the book, I believe there is a TV series that may be more approachable for you instead. I haven’t watched it myself, but would be inclined based on my love of the book!
Happy weekend folks and welcome back to the latest instalment in my regular Sunday Summary update posts.
I briefly returned to my three post schedule this week as I had both my monthly wrap-up for August and my monthly TBR for September to share with you.
As I wanted to get both you in good time, that meant I had to deliver this week. Thankfully, I’m feeling better after my illness last week and I’ve been able to fit both of those in alongside doing some study for work as well.
Books Read
Eruption
I had 155 pages of Eruption to finish, and I completed that in fairly good time this week. I wanted to get back to reading Eruption as soon as I was better; I’m sharing this book with Helen ahead of our book club meet later this month. If I’m honest, I had hoped to get it to her sooner, but sometimes that’s the way things go!
Ultimately, I rated this book 3 stars. It was a perfectly acceptable read and I enjoyed a lot of the information about volcanoes that is embedded within the narrative.
Undoctored
It turns out that I didn’t have a lot left of Undoctored left to listen to because I finished this very early on this week. There is a lot of bonus content at the end of the audiobook which admittedly I haven’t listened to. I quite often don’t in these scenarios.
I really enjoyed this book, and if you enjoyed his earlier works then you will definitely enjoy this follow-up too. Where previous books deal with his life as a junior doctor, Undoctored focuses far more on the end of his career as a doctor and moving on to his current career as a writer and comedian.
I rated Undoctored 4* and I’ll certainly be looking out for anything else he publishes in future!
The Lost Apothecary
As of my last Sunday Summary update I had just started The Lost Apothecary by reading the first chapter.
Admittedly, my focus has been on reading Eruption this week. However, I have read a further few chapters so I am now about 25% through this book. As I’ve got exactly a week left on my library loan now, The Lost Apothecary is my current read and will be my priority over the next few days.
What I’ve read already was done in quite a quick timeframe, so there shouldn’t take me too long to read overall!
Defiant
The last book I’ve started this week is Defiant by Brandon Sanderson. As I mentioned in my monthly TBR post yesterday, I’ve picked this up in audio format.
Even though I’ve read the prior books in the series physically, switching to audio has been seamless. I’ve enjoyed getting reacquainted with the world to see where we are going to go next. I’m not entirely sure where or how this narrative will go from here so I’m excited to listen more and watch this final instalment of the series play out.
I’ll be listening to more of this audio over the next week and I’ll be able to give you a better update next week’s Sunday Summary. I’m only an hour in as of this post.
Books Discovered
Between keeping up with the blog this week, reading and studying for my upcoming exam in November I’ve not really been looking anywhere I would get a book recommendation. So, the reading list has had a week off of new additions!
Coming Up…
This week’s blog post schedule was an exception given the timing of August month-end. Next week I’m going back to one midweek post and another Sunday Summary so I’ve got more time to get back to studying for my exam.
Mid next week, I’m back with a book review for Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. For my thriller fans, this one is a five star recommendation for you. I hope you can check out this post!
Finally, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary update this time next week. Find out which books I’ve read over the course of the week and any other personal updates.
Until next time, enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll see you around!
I’m back with my reading list for September in this monthly TBR post!
I’ve been pushing myself these last few months to try and read more, but ultimately not got through the reading list. I now need to consider that I am studying for an exam in November. As a result, I have less time to read than usual, so I’ve tried to shorten the reading list to allow for that and without feeling guilty.
Here are the reads I have been, and will be reading, this month. Let’s get stuck in!
Fixed Reads
Eruption
Eruption is one of the reads I carried over from August. I’m pleased to say that I just finished the book last night. However, it’s only fair to include the 155 pages so I’ve read this month;the time taken to read that will naturally affect what time I have left for the rest of this TBR.
Undoctored
My second carryover is Undoctored by Adam Kay. It’s another book that I’ve already finished so far this month!
I was listening to the audiobook version and it’s been great to have a humorous non-fiction read for a change. If you’ve already read and loved other books by Adam Kay, such as This is Going to Hurt, Undoctored will offer you the exact same experience with brand-new anecdotes and personal stories. Where the first book focuses on his years as a junior doctor, this latter focuses more towards the end of his doctoring career and his move into becoming a writer and comedian.
The Lost Apothecary
I’m including The Lost Apothecary on my fixed reading list because it is a library loan due back in just over a week.
I picked up this book at the very beginning of the month as I wasn’t feeling the reads I had originally lined up. Instead, I wanted to pick up something a lot lighter, and the synopsis of this book appealed to me.
I’ve only really sat and read this for any length of time once so far at the beginning of the month. I’ve been prioritising finishing Eruption. However, I really enjoyed what I read and I managed to get about 20% through the book in that one sitting. I’m expecting this to be a nice quick read and as it’s now my priority read as of drafting this monthly wrap-up, I hope to get through it soon!
Defiant
The last book I’m including in the fixed section of this monthly TBR is Defiant by Brandon Sanderson. I am determined to finish this series and to make that possible this month, I’ve picked up the audio copy of this book. I’ve read the previous instalments of the series are the physically. However, I currently have no qualms about switching to audio as it’s a form format that means I can access reading at a time where I can’t sit down conventionally. That’s happening more often than it ever used to so it makes sense to adapt.
I’ve not long started the audio of this book, but already I’m getting back into the setting and familiarising myself with where we left off in Cytonic.
I’m looking forward to listening to this audio and finishing this series. It’ll be bittersweet I think.
Mood Reads
Three Sisters
Another audio I’m hoping to pick up this month is Three Sisters by Heather Morris. This is the third book in The Tattooist of Auschwitz series and will mark another series completion for me once read.
I’ve had this audiobook for some time. Given my reading time constraints, having another audio will make the reading list a little easier. It’s also the format I have read the other books in, so it will be consistent.
It’s been a little while since I picked up any books in the series. However, as I don’t think this directly relates or follows on from either of the earlier books, that doesn’t really matter.
The Kingdom
I mentioned in my Sunday Summary last week that I was planning on changing up some of the books I had planned for this TBR. Some of the books stayed on the list, and The Kingdom is the first of these.
The setting of this book is a little whimsical. Combine fantasy theme park with AI and a murder, and you’ll get an idea of what this book is about. I also think the book is told through a variety of formats. I’m excited to pick up something that I wouldn’t typically.
Jingo
Another series I would like to progress with is Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe. The next book on my list is Jingo, which is part of the city watch series. I’m quite looking forward to this book as it deals with the topic of war, and will feature a character I enjoy and find quite relatable – Sam Vimes.
If I recall correctly, the last city watch book I read was Feet of Clay. I wasn’t as much of a fan of this one, but I’m confident this will be a much more interesting read.
If nothing else, Terry’s books usually contain quite a bit of humour and they are relatively light-hearted. Given I’ve got a busy month ahead at work, as well as studying, it will be good to help carry me through. It’s for this reason that Jingo survived the TBR switch up alongside The Kingdom.
Summary
I’m glad I revised my monthly TBR down a little from what I had originally planned. On the off-chance I get through all of the books on this list then I’ll be able to pick up what I want and when.However, there’s enough here that should keep me challenged for the month.
I’m also happy that I’ve taken off some of the larger and heavier books out of this monthly TBR. I was originally thinking of continuing with Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. I also entertained picking up Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb. Neither are quick reads. Whilst they’re both still on my list, I’ll read them at a time that better suits and give myself plenty of time for them.
Hello readers and welcome to this monthly wrap-up for August. I had a decent month of reading, and this post is about sharing what I read over the last month.
I had a couple of carryover’s from July, as well as a varied list for August. As usual now, I didn’t get to all the books I set for August – but I had a great time with the books I did read.
Let’s take a look!
Books Read
The Power of Habit
Picking up from last month’s monthly wrap-up post, I was 30% into The Power of Habit.
I really enjoyed this book, and I’m hoping I have some good take away knowledge from it. The book has great examples of the consequences of bad habits – personal, organisational and as a society. The key takeaway I have from the book is that you can often change a habit by making changes in a seemingly unrelated way and gradually introduce change from there.
I’m hoping this will help me build more good habits in my own life!
The Other People
In my Monthly TBR post I shared that I was nearly through this audiobook. I’d already listened to 80%, so this month I was hoping for a quick conclusion.
Mum loved and strongly recommended The Other People and having finished it, I get why. If you enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing all the way along, this is perfect. Even up until the very end I was still trying to put pieces together and work out character’s involvement in the story line.
The Other People is the third book I’ve read by C.J. Tudor, and I still have plenty to read!
The Midnight Library
For our first ever book club at work, we chose The Midnight Library by Matt Haig to read and discuss. For me it is a re-read, but I agree with some feedback from another member that it’s better second time around!
I re-read The Midnight Library very quickly. It’s only a short read – one of the reasons I recommended it to book club in the first place. At the same time, it raises plenty of discussion points; it doesn’t lack for content! Admittedly I did leave this a little last minute. I finished it the night before book club. I wasn’t the last though – Helen spent the first half hour of the meeting finishing it!
Eruption
I’ve prioritised picking up our next book club read, Eruption, as I’m sharing a physical copy with another member.
As of the end of August I was 65% into the book. I’ve started reading it again after my bout of covid (so as not to contaminate the book!) so as of drafting this monthly wrap-up I’m a little futther.
I hope to finish this soon so I can pass on to Helen ASAP.
Wolves of the Calla
A book I very briefly started, but ended up shelving temporarily, is Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the book and I fully intend to pick it up again soon. However, I started to read this right at the end of the month when I became unwell. I decided the time wasn’t ideal to pick up such a tome. When I’m back into the swing of things I’ll pick it up again.
Breathtaking
A short audiobook I enjoyed this month was Breathtaking by Rachel Clarke. Make no mistake, it’s an eye-opener.
I totally appreciate the book and subject may not be for everyone right now. However, I enjoyed listening to this perspective on the pandemic. I had no idea that care homes were so woefully under-supplied with PPE. What I also found interesting was Rachel’s (and colleagues) views of the advice being issued by the government. It is very much a view of too little and too late.
Undoctored
My last non-fiction to share with you in this monthly wrap-up is Undoctored by Adam Kay.
As of drafting this monthly wrap-up I have just finished the book this morning. You’ll get more thoughts on it in Sunday’s Sunday Summary update.
However, as a snapshot of where I was at month end, I was a couple of hours shy of completion.
Summary
I read quite a number of non-fiction books in August – more than average I’d say. However, given I was a little behind in my mid-year review on this goal, it’s a good change. I’m still slightly behind, but only by one book or so.
August was a good month of reading for subject diversity and I’m looking forward to an equally productive September. My reading list is coming out in the next day or so, so stay tuned!
Happy weekend everyone and welcome to this Sunday Summary update!
I hope you’ve had a great week? Mine could have been better if I’m honest – I’ve been unwell this week with the beloved covid. Whilst I’m feeling a lot better now, midweek I was feeling rough.
As a result, my reading and blogging has suffered a little this week. However, it’s more important to get well and I’m hoping to be back to normal tomorrow. Please! Whilst I’m lucky I can work from home, I hate it…
I had originally planned to share my Goodreads Was Wrong book tag post with you on Thursday. However, that got delayed until Friday whilst I recovered enough to have the inclination to write the post… And worked late Thursday didn’t help matters…
Books Read
All of my reading progress so far this week has been almost exclusively audio format. This is for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the beginning of the week was a bank holiday and I was out doing things versus being in normal routine and therefore more likely to pick up a book. Then I became unwell.
I’ve deliberately not picked up my main physical read carried over from last week, Eruption, because I am sharing this book with somebody. It might sound daft, but I’ve deliberately not picked it up because I don’t want to inadvertently pass covid on. I don’t know how long the virus can stay on surfaces, but I don’t want to find out the hard way…
I did try picking up Wolves of the Calla and the shorter and more gratifying The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, instead, but without success. I’m only just starting to want to read again. I’ve been having a break – switching off playing games and watching TV for the last few days instead.
Undoctored
On the flipside, audiobook progress has moved on a good way this week. As of this Sunday Summary post, I am now just over halfway through Undoctored by Adam Kay.
The humour has been very helpful in the last few days in lightening the mood and keeping me company whilst doing monotonous work and working from home.
Adam Kay is very funny and I can’t recommend his books enough. I love his personal stories and cringey embarrassing moments that happen to us all, are highly amusing, and make me feel a bit more human.
I’m looking forward to continuing with this audio next week!
The Lost Apothecary
Whilst I’m waiting to pick up Eruption again, I’ve ultimately decided on picking up a light to read as my brain currently isn’t in the zone for heavy book. With this in mind, I have just started The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.
I’ve only read the first chapter as of this post, but it’s been a good start and I think it’s just the right kind of book I need at the moment. I’ll update you more as I continue to read.
Books Discovered
I keep half an eye on Ezeekat’s Fable book club and I like the sound of this month’s book. Unfortunately I won’t be reading it as part of the club, but I am adding it to my TBR to read at a later date.
Coming Up…
We’re already into the month of September so next week I’ll be sharing my usual monthly posts. The first of those is my monthly wrap-up for August. In that post I’ll recap the books I read throughout August.
Next up is my monthly TBR for September. I did provisionally make a note of some books I intended to read in September when I put together my August TBR. Otherwise, I have absolutely no idea what I plan to pick up!
Truthfully, if I picked up my carryovers from August and the books I pencilled in before I would have a solid reading list. However, I feel like a change up – so anything goes. You’ll find out later this week what I decide!
As always, I’ll be back this time next week with another Sunday Summary post to update you on the books I’ve read, those I’ve added to the reading list and lastly, what’s coming up on the blog.
Until then, I hope you have a great week and I will see you around!
Good evening folks – it’s Sunday once again (and it’s been a miserable one at that!) so I’m here with another Sunday Summary catch-up!
This week is the first in which I’ve cut down my blog schedule, so I’ve only shared one post with you so far. That post was my book review of The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. If you like the sound of a Greek mythology with a feminist twist, I strongly suggest you check that out!
Books Read
Wolves of the Calla
As of last week’s Sunday Summary post I had only just started Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. In reality, I’m not much further in this post. I started the book but ended up putting it on hold when I received a copy of Eruption. I explain why below.
As of this post, I am only 26 pages in, but looking forward to getting stuck in once Eruption is finished with!
Eruption
I’d debated ticking along with Wolves of the Calla by reading this in tandem with other books. However, I have more or less put that on hold in order to read Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson.
The book club at work are picking this one up ahead of our next meeting. The reason I’m reading this one so early this time is because I am sharing the book with Helen. She wasn’t able to get a copy from the library and she’s trying to watch pennies at the moment. I’ve offered to share my copy, so I’m reading it first to give her as much time as possible with it before the meeting.
As of this Sunday Summary post, I am 277 pages into the book. It’s an interesting read, even if I think the premise is a little bit far-fetched. It’s also very readable as the chapters are short and sweet. If anything, perhaps a bit too short for my liking. It’s something I’m able to work with quite well though.
I’ll have this finished in the next few days. I can give you my final thoughts in next week Sunday Summary.
Undoctored
From the half an hour listening time I updated you in last week’s Sunday Summary, I have gone onto listen to another hour or so of Undoctored by Adam Kay this week.
The majority of that audiobook time this week has been when driving to and from work. It’s a good reliable quality time moment for me that I can crack out an audiobook and have a good listen.
Undoctored so far is every bit as funny as I expected it to be. I loved listening to This is Going to Hurt and T’was the Night Shift Before Christmas. I have high expectations of Undoctored based on these experiences, but also confidence that it will meet those lofty standards.
Books Discovered
Between reading for fun and studying for work this week, nothing new has come onto my radar in the last week to update you on!
Coming Up…
I’m writing a fun book tag mid-week as a bit of something different on the blog. I found the post over on Zezee with Books and I thought it would be fun to share.
I’ll be back with my next Sunday Summary instalment at the same time next week. In that post, I’ll update you on my recent reads, anything added to the reading list and summarise what’s coming up on the blog in due course.
I hope you can check out each of those posts and I look forward to seeing you around.
In today’s review post I share my thoughts on The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. If you enjoy fiction with a feminist angle then it’s definitely one for you to try!
With the conventional narrative of the period turned on its head, we see the human (and often female) cost of war play out.
‘There was a woman at the heart of the Trojan War whose voice has been silent – until now. Discover the greatest Greek myth of all – retold by the witness that history forgot . . .
Briseis was a queen until her city was destroyed. Now she is a slave to the man who butchered her husband and brothers. Trapped in a world defined by men, can she survive to become the author of her own story?
My Thoughts
Plot
Often, Greek retellings glamourise war as bold and heroic, but neglect to mention the human cost. In The Silence of the Girls, we get a unique perspective that strips away glory and valour. It highlights the upheaval of the female survivors and the fate they are later subjected to.
The main storyteller is Briseis, former Queen and now slave to Achilles. After her husband and family are murdered, she is taken as a sex slave. Over the course of the book we experience what it is like to be a woman, taken from home and imprisoned in a war camp. It’s a much more realistic view of war, and especially as a woman I found Briseis relatable and a good narrator.
Characters
Through Briseis we get a perspective that in the nicest possible way, we wouldn’t from a male, glory-drunk warrior. Women aren’t people with feelings and livelihoods, they’re prisoners and conquests. You can do what you want with them after all. They aren’t in control.
The lives and treatment of women is a big focus of the book. Naturally, with a protagonist subjected to the same atrocities as the rest of the women, even if her oppressor is almost exclusively one of the most prominent men of the myth, is sympathetic.
I even liked how the male characters, depicted as heroes in other tellings of the stories, are emphasised as fathers, brothers and sons. It’s a very human perspective – one we can all relate to.
Setting
The setting of the book is really immersive. Especially when details that normally are glossed over in these books are brought to the fore.
Sacked cities, battlegrounds and war camps are chaotic things. Thousands of men and women living together in close confines, and many in captivity, is a harrowing experience.
However, I found The Silence of the Girls an easy read for being able to put myself in the positions of the characters. Imagine the stink and chaos of unwashed bodies. The oppression and fear. The writing is powerful to be able to put is in the shoes of these women, and we find ourselves angry.
Narrative Style
Although the narrative covers more sensitive or downright difficult subjects, the prose itself is easy to read. I read the book in less than a week as a break from another I was struggling with. It picked me (and my desire to read) back up for sure!
The perspective switches a few times, keeping us interested in the narrative. Personally I enjoy books that do this ans give a more rounded view of events.
Summary
The Silence of the Girls, and the remainder of the Women of Troy series, are great reads for feminist fiction and Greek mythology fans.
I’m yet to read any other books in the series, but I will!
It’s Sunday night again, so I can only be back with you for another Sunday Summary update! I hope you’ve all had a great week?
I’ve shared my usual two posts so far with you this week. The first of those was my Favourite Books to Recommend discussion post which went live on Thursday. I shared books I love to recommend to others for a variety of reasons. If you want to find out more, or are looking for recommendations yourself… take a look here!
The second post I shared was my First Lines Friday feature. In this week’s post I featured one of the two new additions to my TBR (which I share below). Take a look to find out which one and what it’s all about.
Books Read
The Power of Habit
I’d temporarily put The Power of Habit on hold as I needed to finish The Midnight Library before Tuesday lunchtime. Once that was completed though, I got stuck back in and finished the book within a couple of days!
I enjoyed the different angles and examples of habit-building at individual, corporate and societal level. Some the examples also go to show that you can start to build habits in unanticipated ways – by starting small or looking at a habit that seems unrelated but has a knock on effect.
Breathtaking
My main audiobook listen this week was Breathtaking by Rachel Clarke. If you watched the four part TV series of the same name, it was inspired by this book.
As of last week’s Sunday Summary I was 60% into the book. This week, I made it to the finish! It’s quite a short read or listen, but no less impactful. Whilst it didn’t make me upset, it is a book of emotional ups and downs.
The perspective is told from that of a hospice nurse who volunteers part time to help on Covid wards between January and April 2020. In the grand scheme, it only covers the early pandemic. However, it is a good insight and commentary on the state of the NHS during one of its busiest periods to date.
The Midnight Library
My reading priority at the beginning of this week was to finish The Midnight Library ahead of our book club meeting on Tuesday.
As of last week’s Sunday Summary I was about 50% into the book. It’s quite a short one, and familiar to me so therefore quick to read. I blitzed the last 50% on Sunday night and Monday so I was able to go to our meet fully prepared.
It was our first club meet and you know what? It went really well! We all enjoyed the book and had a great chat about it.
Wolves of the Calla
I’m including Wolves of the Calla in this Sunday Summary so you know what I’m reading in the next week or so. I’ve only just started the prologue so I have nothing significant to report… just that this is my next read!
Undoctored
Another book I feature in this post as I’ve just started it is Undoctored. I’ve only listened to the first half an hour, but it’s been a good listen.
That’s hardly unexpected! Adam Kay is funny and his humour is shining though already. I’m looking forward to listening to more over the next week or so.
Books Discovered
I’ve added two books to my reading list this week after I read about them and they caught my attention.
I was recommended Curious Tides on Threads by a fellow reader after asking for recommendations for books in the dark academia genre. This also blends with fantasy, so it sounds like a perfect type of book for me!
I read about The Memory Police in an article about translated books. The Memory Police was originally published in Japanese. I like the dystopian nature of the synopsis and I’m intrigued if there are any cultural differences to the narrative given the difference in setting etc.
Coming Up…
On Wednesday this week I plan to share my review of The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. I read this back in August 2022 and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on this 5* read!
I would usually share three posts a week and have a regular Friday feature. However, as I’m about to start studying for a qualification for work I’m going to cut the blog schedule from three posts a week to two until that’s done.
So, my next and last post of the week will be another Sunday Summary catch up. Will I feature as many books in next week’s post? Not likely – but I’ll update you all the same.
Until then, happy reading and I hope to see you in the next post!
What book blogger wouldn’t proclaim themselves an avid reader?
If found without a book in hand, send for medical aid!
My name is Rebecca; welcome to my humble little blog.
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Rebecca’s ReaderRank
Rebecca has reviewed 358 books with an average rating of 4.321 out of 5.
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Genre: Thriller
Genre: Historical Fiction / Greek mythology
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