Am I likely to finish this October monthly TBR? If the past few months are anything to go by, the answer is no. However, I’m still setting myself the line up regardless!
You may recognise some of the books on this list from my recent Top Ten Tuesday Autumn TBR. Those posts are great ways to look ahead at planned upcoming reads. And, by sharing them publicly I’m held accountable as well.
Let’s take a look at the books I’m picking up this month:-
Fixed Reads
The Rosie Project
I’m currently reading The Rosie Project for our work book club. Currently, that meet is scheduled for next week so I need to get a wriggle on. So far, I’m only 15% or so into the book.
I’m enjoying the perspective of the protagonist so far, but admittedly, this book isn’t what I’d normally pick up for myself. However, the point of book club is to challenge my reading and try something new. I’m going to stick with this book as long as I can, even if that means I don’t finish it ahead of our meet. I’m not too worried about being spoiled for it.
Defiant
Defiant is on my fixed reading list for October because it is currently read that I carried over from September.
I didn’t listen to too much of Defiant last month even though I’m really enjoying the story. I tend to wax and wane with the format. But, I think this is impacted most by the fact that I’m studying for an exam. That said, I’m still going to continue with this book as and where I can. Equally, I won’t put too much pressure on myself if that takes a little longer.
Carrie
I’m including Carrie on my fixed reading list for October because I always try to read a classic around Halloween. I am relatively unaware of the story of Carrie considering how popular it is. I haven’t read the book before and neither have I seen any films on it.
Stephen King is one of my go-tos in the horror genre. It’s not a genre I really love, but there is enough in his writing that has a psychological element rather than just a cheap jump scare. That’s what gets me interested as opposed to basic fear-mongering tactics.
Mood Reads
The Outsider
Another Stephen King book I want to pick up this month, but won’t kick myself if I don’t get to, is The Outsider. I love the premise and I think this will also make a great spooky reading in October.
There is something about crime committed against children that riles people up against the accused. I am sure there is going to be a big element of that in this book, and how much I’m influenced by that remains to be seen.
I’m looking forward to giving it a try!
The Squiggly Career
The last book on this monthly TBR is a non-fiction. In my Autumn TBR post, I shared some non-seasonal reads that I want to pick up in the next few months. One of those is The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis.
I enjoyed reading (listening) to You Coach You earlier this year. After listening to that book, I went on to purchase a physical copy of it so I can refer back to it again. At the same time, I bought The Squiggly Career. I have always believed there is always something new to learn and skills and ways in which I can develop into a better version of myself.
Summary
I have some great, interesting and seasonal spooky reads coming up in October’s monthly TBR. Have you read any of the books on this list? Are any of them on your list?
Good evening from a slightly damp and very windy island in the middle of the Irish sea! As always, a warm welcome to you in this Sunday Summary update. In today’s post, I take the opportunity to update you on the books I’ve been reading this week. I’m pleased to say I have more progress to report than last week, so make yourself a cuppa and get comfy!
Before I get into the books I read this week, I like to recap the blog posts I’ve shared at the beginning of every Sunday Summary post. That way if you missed anything, it’s a chance to catch up! You may remember that I am studying for an exam that I’m sitting in November. As a result, I’ve temporarily reduced my blogging schedule from three posts a week to two to accommodate my revision time. As such, I’ve only shared one post so far this week, and that was my Autumn 2024 TBR.
Next week I’ll be busier; stay tuned to find out why below. For now though, onto the books I’ve read this week!
Books Read
The Lost Apothecary
Whereas in last week’s Sunday Summary post I lamented having not finished The Lost Apothecary, I am able to confirm in this Sunday Summary that I HAVE now finished it.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, but it didn’t rate as highly as I’d hoped. It was perfectly readable – if you enjoy historical fiction with a mystery split across dual timelines then this is a solid recommendation I would make. For me though, it didn’t *dazzle*. I rated this book at a perfectly acceptable three stars, so it’s solid. It just didn’t blow me away.
The Kingdom
It’s funny, I’ve only been saying the last couple of weeks that I don’t enjoy reading on my phone. However, the practicalities of picking up The Kingdom this week have meant that I’ve only picked up my Kindle once – today. Instead, I’ve progressed with this book more via the Kindle app on my phone.
I don’t really know why. The only reason I can think of is that I have been reading this book in very short bursts and when opportunity knocks. For example, whilst I’ve been waiting for my boyfriend to finish work, I’ll be sat reading this in the car.
I’ve just picked The Kingdom up properly on my Kindle this evening. I much prefer my Kindle as it’s a lot nicer to look at, especially when reading in longer bursts.
Having said that phone reading is not my preference, I managed to read 30% of The Kingdom that way and I’ve blitzed another 15% on my Kindle this evening alone. It’s a quick read!
The storyline has me hooked and I can’t wait to see what’s going on. I don’t know whether I can trust our protagonist and her perspective at the moment, but there is definitely more going on under the surface that I can’t wait to dredge up…
Defiant
Reading progress with e-books has certainly been better than audio once again. In this Sunday Summary post, I can only share 35 minutes of listening time to Defiant by Brandon Sanderson.
More often than not these days, I listen to audiobooks whilst I’m driving. I’ve been doing a lot more studying this week than I would typically average. As a result, I’ve been taking those quiet moments (whilst not quite being on autopilot, but you know what I mean) to think over what I’ve been reading and learning instead.
Is managing operational risk in financial institutions anywhere near as interesting as Defiant? Not especially. However, it is necessary for me to go over this content in anyway and shape that I can.
Books Discovered
I’m trying to read more non-fiction books this year, and I discovered another non-fiction earlier today that I think may make interesting reading for me.
The Courage to be Disliked caught my attention because it teaches readers how to advocate for their own wishes and overall directional life path, especially when that doesn’t align with societal expectations. Whilst there are many aspects in which I’m perfectly okay with doing my own thing, I feel there are certainly takeaways from this book that I would benefit from were I to read it. Everyday is a school day after all.
Coming Up…
Although I am for the most part sticking to a two post per week schedule, this week is an exception. I don’t like to wait too long before sharing my monthly wrap-up and monthly TBR posts. With the way the beginning of the month of October falls, I’m going to have to incorporate both of those posts into my week, as well as a Sunday Summary. It’s also quarter end, which is one of my busiest periods at work.
It’s going to be a busy week…
My intended timeline for sharing the posts is for my monthly wrap-up post for September to go live on Wednesday and my monthly TBR on Friday. We’ll see if that pans out…
Then, of course, I’ll be back at the same time next Sunday with the usual Sunday Summary update.
Still with me? Thanks for reading! What have you read recently… and do you have any recommendations for me?
In today’s Top Ten Tuesday post I’m sharing my Autumn 2024 TBR. If you are unfamiliar with this series, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature post across various different topics. Whilst I don’t take part every week, I have made a habit of taking part in the seasonal TBR posts. They’re a great way to plan what books I want coming up on my TBR.
That’s especially so for me this month, as I’m far more likely to seasonally read in autumn. I don’t really know what’s associated with Spring, but I’m not a Summer romance reader or a cozy Christmas girl. Autumn though? Roll out the mystery, thriller and horror genres!
That said, I’m not entirely a seasonal reader. This TBR is made up of six seasonal books which I’m looking forward to picking up over the next few months. However, that’s not the entirety of my focus and so there are four non-seasonal books that I am looking to pick up in the next three months.
Let’s take a look!
Seasonal
The Outsider
You can’t go wrong with a good Stephen King novel around October. In fact, I have two on this Top Ten Tuesday list. The first of those is The Outsider.
I don’t know how he does it, but the atmosphere in King’s books fits perfectly with the dark, chilly nights drawing in. An aspect I’m looking forward to in this book is that the story is made more unsettling by the crime being perpetrated against a child. Not that I would ever wish that on anybody, obviously. However, there is a sense of protectiveness for children that villainises anyone accused of crime against them. It’s going to create even more tension in the book and I can’t wait to see how the story pans out.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
It’s about time I got to one of the oldest books on my reading list, and the upcoming season will be the perfect time.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children has been on my reading list since July 2017. It’s been a long time since I added it and admittedly a while since I heard anything about the book.
However, I remember reading a lot of good things about it at the time I added it to my TBR. That’s why I added it after all! I’m going into this book pretty blind as to what it’s about, but I’m looking forward to giving it a try…
Carrie
I always make an effort to pick up a King classic around Halloween, (called Hop tu Naa locally) and Carrie is this year‘s choice.
I’ve heard good reviews of the book in general terms, but I know for a fact my mum and dad also enjoyed the film adaptation. I have no experience of either given I don’t really watch horror. For a classic, I’m pretty ignorant of the synopsis other than it involves a young girl with telekinetic powers.
Let’s hope in a couple of months time I’m able to tell you more about the book than here in this Top Ten Tuesday!
The Burning Girls
I’ve read a few books by CJ Tudor now and I have plenty more on my reading list. I love a good thriller, and autumn is the perfect time to read them.
The next on my list of CJ Tudor’s books is The Burning Girls. If I love the book as much as I expect, I’ll be watching the recently made TV series as well. I’m also a fan of cozying in and watching a little bit of telly when it’s miserable and cold outside. I may be a book woman, but I can be persuaded by a good drama now and then.
The Bone Collector
Another book that I feel has been on my reading list for a long time and would be perfect to pick up soon is The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver. I remember my sister picking up a copy of this book whilst she was at university. She graduated pre-pandemic…
I have watched the drama released in 2020 relating to this book and I really enjoyed the character development of Lincoln Rhyme. As ever, I’m always hopeful the book will build upon a TV adaptation so that the experience is more immersive and enjoyable overall (I hate being disappointed).
Let’s keep my fingers crossed that’s the case here.
Incendium
A book I didn’t get to last year, but really want to read around bonfire night this year, is Incendium. I’m a little bit gutted I didn’t get to it last year as it would’ve been perfect reading in November. However, I realistically would only have been able to start the book at the very end of the month and that didn’t feel quite right to me.
Instead, I’m using this post as a reminder that I want to pick up this book in good time so that I will be reading this in November. It’s also nice to include a book like this on my reading list as often autumnal seasonal reads are more associated with Halloween. It’s fun to have another festival of sorts to read around.
Non-Seasonal
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
Whilst I’m looking forward to picking up more books from the mystery/thriller/horror genres, my desire to pick up other books doesn’t go away. That’s why there are non-seasonal reads on this Top Ten Tuesday. A book I recently featured in a Shelf Control post is Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi.
It’s been a good few years since I picked up the first book of the series, Children of Blood and Bone. I want to continue with the series as I remember that book being a nice fun read. It’ll also help towards my reading goal of continuing ongoing series versus starting new ones.
Alan Turing: The Enigma
Another reading goal I set myself in my 2024 Resolutions post was to continue with non-fiction reads. Along these lines, I want to pick up a non-fiction based on a pivotable individual in our history, Alan Turing.
If you are unfamiliar, Alan Turing is the man who built the computer that cracked the enigma code in World War II. It’s because of him that we were able to intercept German communications and ultimately win the war. Thereafter he was influential in computer science and has had a significant role in building the foundations of our modern computers.
He also has quite a tragic personal life story, which I feel will be touched on in this book at some point.
The Squiggly Career
I’m the type of person to believe that every day is a school day. Reading and exploring personal development isn’t something to do in January, but all year round.
Earlier this year I read You Coach You, a book also written by the same authors. I really enjoyed that book and found it a useful guideline for both reading then but also future reference. I went on to buy a copy of You Coach You at the same time I acquired The Squiggly Career. I expect this will be a book I refer back to in years to come as well…
Notes on a Nervous Planet
My last non-fiction book featured in this Top Ten Tuesday is Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig. I’ve only read one book by Matt, The Midnight Library. However, I have read that book twice now and loved it on both occasions.
Based on my experience of that, I think Matt will have some quite poignant things to say in this non-fiction. I’m looking forward to reading it and finding out for sure.
Summary
So, those are the books I intend to pick up within the next few months.
Thanks for reading today’s Top Ten Tuesday! Are you a seasonal reader? Are you picking up any books from this TBR?
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!
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.
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!
The Goodreads Was Wrong Book Tag was created by booktuber GabsAboutBooks. I found it on Zeezee with Books and thought it would be great fun to try!
I apologise that this post is coming to you a day later than I originally planned. I was hoping to get this to you guys yesterday, but unfortunately, I haven’t been well. Yes, I’ve come down with the beloved Covid 🎉 I am on the mend though, so fingers crossed I’m better soon and normal life can resume…
Now, let’s get into the tag!
What is the highest-rated book that you gave a low rating?
(Sort your books in Goodreads based on Average Ratings and find the highest-rated book you gave a low rating.)
Defiance (The Torcian Chronicles) – P.J. Reed
It’s a shame I didn’t get on with this book as I was reviewing it for a blog tour. I persevered where perhaps I wouldn’t have were I reading the book of my own volition.
It Just wasn’t for me. Writing style is a big make or break for me when reading and I couldn’t gel with writing style.
What is the lowest-rated book that you gave a high rating?
(Sort your books in Goodreads based on Average Ratings, in reverse order, and find the lowest-rated book you gave a high rating.)
Vox – Christina Dalcher
Vox averages 3.5 stars on Goodreads, but I loved it! Then again, I’m a sucker for Feminist fiction.
I’m not sure why this sticks so hard in the average category on Goodreads. I can see why this kind of book wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But then again, why would you read it if you know that about yourself?
I regret that this book will be judged on this average rating. I personally thought it was great!
What is the most popular book that you disagree with the average rating?
(Sort your books in Goodreads based on Number of Ratings and find the first book you disagree with the average rating.)
Circe – Madeleine Miller
On the other end of the spectrum, I really didn’t feel Circe in the same way the general community has…
The Goodreads average rating is 4.23 stars, but I only rated it 3 stars. In theory I should have loved the book, but something about it helped me back. I didn’t really like Circe and that made it difficult to like the rest of the book.
I am sorry if you disagree with me, but that’s just my opinion.
What is the least popular book that you disagree with the average rating?
(Sort your books in Goodreads based on Number of Ratings, in reverse order, and find the first book you disagree with the average rating.)
Former.ly – The Rise and Fall of a Social Network – Dane Cobain
I don’t have many books like this on my list, but the one I have chosen to feature is a book I have rated a whole star lower than the average.
The Goodreads average is 3.92 stars, but I put this as a 3 star book. Personally, I found it was full of unrelatable characters and lack to spark that would warrant a higher rating from me.
Choose two books that have an average rating of 3/5 stars but you gave a higher rating.
Choose two books that have an average rating of 3/5 stars but you gave a lower rating.
I’ve only featured one book here because I can’t actually feature another. Generally speaking, if a book is reading that low in my mind, I’m not that inclined to finish it. Not one for struggling through books if I’m not enjoying them. Frankly, there are plenty more metaphorical fish in the sea.
Choose two books that have an average rating of 4/5 stars but you gave a lower rating.
Choose two books that have an average rating of 2/5 stars but you gave a higher rating.
Again as above, I don’t typically read books that would have this low a rating. If the general theme is that the reviews are not good, I’m not taking a recommendation to read them.
Do you tend to agree or disagree with Goodreads average rating, and do you use Goodreads as a guide for books you want to read?
I would say I broadly agree with Goodreads ratings, but clearly there are a few outliers!
If you’ve enjoyed this tag and would like to take part yourself, I would love to see your answers to these questions!
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.
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 has reviewed 358 books with an average rating of 4.321 out of 5.
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