Tag: Mindee Arnett

Sunday Summary – 19th April 2026

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Good evening, friends! We’re back with another Sunday Summary update. In last week’s Sunday Summary, I didn’t have too much to report. I was doing overtime at work and generally had a lot on my plate outside of the blog. 

This week, that’s thankfully not the case. However, I think I’ve gone from one extreme to the other. There’s still not a lot of reading progress, though thankfully some, because I’ve enjoyed downtime in other ways. I’ve played a lot of Minecraft on my Switch this week… Then, today, I had to take advantage of great weather (not frequent here!) to have a good tidy up of the gardens. 

I did post my review of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine earlier this week – it’s my one claim to productivity this week…

 

Books Read

1984

As of this Sunday Summary, I’m still reading 1984. I’ve read a little bit of the book this week, but only a handful of pages so far. However, I will be making a good push towards finishing this book this evening. I’ve had a busy day today, so I’m not doing much tonight otherwise 😂

 

Onyx and Ivory 

I’ve made more progress with Onyx and Ivory.

This week, I’ve listened to three and a half hours of the book. I’ve picked it up on more than one occasion, which makes it an improvement on 1984 so far… 

I’m enjoying the book and the conflict points that are starting to unfold in the book. It’s definitely YA, but the relationship conflict between Kate and Corwin isn’t taking away from the world-building and wider fantasy world, but rather adding to it. 

 

Books Discovered

 

This week, I’ve been asked to pick up a book called The Poison Daughter by a colleague, Suzanne. She says she has thoughts on the book and wants someone to chat with it about! 

And you know what, that’s fair enough – I’m cool to give it a try as I love having someone to yak about it with afterwards 😅

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

Next week, I’m looking forward to sharing a list of popular titles I’ve DNF’d (‘Did Not Finish’) in my time reading and blogging, and why I didn’t get on with them. 

Next on the list, I’m going back to my usual Friday schedule with a First Lines Friday post. It’s been a little while since I’ve shared one of these, so I’m looking forward to returning with this next week. 

Last, but by no means least, I’m back next week for another Sunday Summary catch-up. I hoped last week for more progress next week… guess that’s carried forward 🤣

 

YouTube

I still have a couple of shorts I can post on YT; I didn’t do them this week for some reason! I tried to plan and record a long video today, but didn’t get there in time. I’ll do it this week to maybe post towards the end of next week. 

 

Summary 

So, again this Sunday Summary leaves me hoping for better progress next week. Now I’ve had a good rest from last week, it’s time to get back into the typical routine. 

Now, I’m off to bury my head in 1984. What are you reading? 

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Sunday Summary – 12th April 2026

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This Sunday Summary comes after a busy week, but admittedly, I’ve been busy doing pretty much everything but reading and blogging. Working in the sector I do, quarter end is incredibly busy for me. Combine that with being generally short staffed in March, and then short deadlines this week, it’s been mental. Unfortunately, I’ve had to put in a good few hours of overtime in the last couple of weeks. Whilst I will get that back, it’s meant that I’ve spent a lot of time this week doing non-blog related work. 

On top of that, I wasn’t well at the beginning of the week either. When it rains, it pours and all that… 

Whilst I did manage to get my draft of my book review for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine started, it needs more work. I also didn’t even get the chance to think about later posts this week. So, needless to say, my plans for the week just gone will be rolled forward. I’ll try to get those posts out this week instead. Now my close deadlines are passed, next week should be a return to normal.

Hope I haven’t just jinxed myself… 

 

Books Read

1984

It shouldn’t be a surprise that this Sunday Summary instalment is light on reading updates. Thankfully, I picked up 1984 today for the first time in several days. 

However, progress is pretty meagre so my hopes to finish this book this week have been moved on next week now as well… 

 

Onyx and Ivory 

Listing progress with Onyx and Ivory is also pretty slim. As of this Sunday Summary, I listened to a total of 45 minutes of this audiobook on Monday this week… 😅

Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t listen to audiobooks very much, that’s probably great progress for some. However, I know I can do a lot better. So, I plan to get back to normal and start trying to listen a little bit more regularly. 

The brain fog this week with not switching off properly from work got to me. I usually listen whilst commuting, but I was that desperate for brain space I was driving in silence, or listening to music I was familiar with, just to try and switch off. 

 

Books Discovered 

You know I’ve been busy when I haven’t even had the time to discover a new book or two! Quite often have an addition here – it probably says a lot if I haven’t even had the chance to see anything I fancy picking up to read! 

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

On the blog, I’ll finish that review of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and get that out next week. I got the review at least halfway drafted, so hopefully not too much effort to make this happen next week!

Later in the week, I’m also rolling forward my planned nine-year anniversary post. It’s later this month, so I have some leeway here. 

Finally, I can only hope for a more productive reading week and have lots of updates for next week’s Sunday Summary.

 

YouTube

Thankfully, have a couple of shorts already recorded I can post. I’ll also potentially record some on the fly. However, this week content will be a little bit more chaotic. I don’t have a long form video, but I’m sure the channel will live for a week without… 

 

Summary 

Fingers crossed for a more productive Sunday Summary next week! At least this week’s Sunday Summary instalment being short means I can enjoy a relaxing shower and get back to 1984 tonight before bed. 

Then, it’s a brand new week! Here’s to a more relaxed one – what books have you lined up to read next week? 

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Sunday Summary – 5th April 2026

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This Sunday Summary is a busy one, and I don’t quite know how I’ve managed it all. 

It’s been a mental week at work owing to the fact that it’s one of our busiest periods. I’ve put in overtime and still managed to put out content and read. Sure, maybe not quite as much as usual, but I’ve not nosedived into the abyss like I should have. Could have…  

Before we get to books read, let’s recap what I’ve put out content-wise this week. First of all, I shared my wrap-up for March on both YouTube and my blog. On Thursday, I reviewed Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter for the publication blog tour. I loved this historical fiction as much as I expected given I’ve enjoyed the prior eight books in the series! 

Friday saw my Books I Turn to in a Book Slump post that was meant to go live last week. Finally, my April TBR went live on YouTube yesterday and on my blog earlier today. Phew! Still with me? 

 

Books Read

Storm of Mercia

My first reading priority of the week was to finish Storm of Mercia ahead of my blog tour review post due Thursday. 

I enjoyed this instalment. It was full of the usual action and intrigue we have come to know and love from the Eagle of Mercia chronicles. However, we have some differences in this storyline to previous books. Whilst Icel doesn’t quite find his sea legs, he does find himself on open waters for the first time. 

No spoilers here, and if you want to find out more, you can read my spoiler-free review here. 

 

The Astral Library

In last week’s Sunday Summary check-in, I was 40% through The Astral Library. This week, I finished the audiobook as I planned. Knowing how much time I had left, I strongly suspected I would! 

The overarching premise of the book is somewhat reminiscent of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. However, it is entirely its own story and I loved reading this book of books. 

The Astral Library is a sanctuary for those who seek solace in their favourite book. When it comes under attack, Alix steps in to take hold of the narrative and stand up to those who’ve forgotten what, and who, libraries are for. 

I really enjoyed this recent release! It was a fun narrative, with an emphasis on saving libraries and those who would try to take away the key resources they offer. More thoughts on this to follow on my YouTube channel in the near future. Watch this space! 

 

Onyx and Ivory 

Last night, I started my audiobook listen of Onyx and Ivory. This romantasy novel came onto my TBR out of the TBR Jar I used to pick four new reads for this month. 

It wasn’t the audiobook I originally wanted to start with. I had hoped one of the non-fiction picks from that list was available so I could start with that. However, one hasn’t been made for this book so I had to go with Onyx and Ivory itself. 

So far, the couple of chapters I’ve started have engaged me with the storyline. I’m looking forward to listening more over the next week. I’m prioritising this so I can have a break between this and another romantasy I’m reading this month – Crown of Midnight. 

 

1984

Finally, I got back to my read of 1984. I’ve had to shelve this for a couple of weeks in order to read Rose Red and Storm of Mercia. I had review obligations for both of these books, so they had to come first. 

Now those are done and I’m free of deadlines, I’m back to reading my own choice and pace. Progress with 1984 only started again earlier today, but I’ve already read 70 pages this afternoon. Hopefully I’ll get a few more in before the end of today! 

 

Books Discovered

The other half and I watched a series on Netlfix called The Days this week. It’s about events that took place in the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant disaster in March 2011. 

That series is based on a report from the manager of the plant, Masao Yoshida, as well as a book called Meltdown: Inside the Fukushima Nuclear Crisis. It was a really interesting series (fictional, but based on the true events). No surprises it’s on my TBR. I enjoyed reading about Chernobyl (Adam Higginbotham) after all… 

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

On the blog, I’ve got a review of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine planned. It’s been a while since I read and featured this book. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic read and it’s one I’m excited to talk about again! 

Later in the week, I have a unique blog post to share with you. I’m coming up to the nine year anniversary of my blog’s creation. To celebrate that, I am going to look back at what I’ve enjoyed in becoming a book blogger and share where I hope the next nine years will take me. 

Finally, you know the drill. Next week I’ll be back with another Sunday summary, catching you up on my current reads as well as recapping my content for the week in case you missed any.

 

YouTube

This weekend, I’ve recorded a review video for Afger the Forest to go live on YouTube this week. 

As well, I have a short about an upcoming read (Looking at Women, Looking at War) and about books I turn to in a book slump. 

Finally, I’ll share a recap of what I’ve been reading over the next seven days! 

 

Books

In a new section here on the blog, I’ll also tease the books I plan to pick up after I’ve completed my current reads…

 

 

 

Summary 

Given I spent several hours of evening time working this week, as well as working on Good Friday, I’ve not let that stop me in my bookish progress. 

Coming down with the lurgy has not helped brighten my weekend. However, I’m determined to enjoy the rest and relaxation time I clearly need with a few good books in hand! 

That’s everything from me in today’s Sunday Summary – what are you reading? 

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Monthly TBR – April 2026

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My monthly TBR for April is a little bit different. Normally, I have a set of books that I have in mind to pick up and I largely pick this myself. Sometimes that’s shaped by reading challenges, and that is still somewhat true for this month. However, half of this monthly TBR has been decided by a TBR jar. 

If you want to go and watch me physically pull these out of the jar and share my initial reactions, I recorded this and published the video over on my new YouTube channel. Rather than rehash all the content, what I’m going to do is share a link to that video in this post, and for those of you who don’t want to go and watch that, I will provide a brief written summary of the books on my TBR below.

 

Carryovers from March/Reading Obligations 

Storm of Mercia

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Starting with a carryover that I was actively reading as at the change of month, I have already finished storm of Mercier by MJ Porter as I had a review obligation to share my thoughts on the book on the 2nd of April. 

I’m not going to go into too much detail here, because my thoughts are already live on the Interwebs. You can check out my blog post here for more on this ninth instalment to this epic historical fiction series set in 10th century England. 

 

The Astral Library

 

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Amazon Purchase Link

Another book I’m featuring because I did carry forward into April, but have already finished as of this April TBR post, is my audiobook lesson of the astral library.

I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction and a story that’s really about the power and magic of libraries. If you like the style of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, it offers a similar feel but a completely unique storyline.

 

1984 / Julia

 

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Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

In March, I started rereading 1984 by George Orwell. At just over 125 pages in, I had to put this down in order to fulfil my reading obligations for reviews for Rose Red and Storm of Mercia. 

Now those are done, I’m keen to get back into my re-read of this dystopian fiction so I can then dabble in a retelling of the same world, Julia by Sandra Newman.

 

Crown of Midnight 

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I am reading Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series in a bit to both try out this author, as well as read some more trendy books. Usually, I just do my own thing, but I’m trying to be a little bit more current and talk about more tropical books.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to start Crown of Midnight , which I was supposed to read in March. Fear not though friends! If you want to join along with my readalong, I am committed to reading the second book in April. 

As well, I will be reading a book a month every month until this is finished later this year. If you want to join in on this readalong, I am digging these on both StoryGraph and Fable, whichever you prefer! My thoughts on book one are also over on my YouTube channel… 

 

Looking at Women Looking At War

 

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Amazon Purchase Link

The book I wanted to complete before the end of March to contribute towards the Goodreads 2026 Winter challenge is Looking at Women Looking At War by Victoria Amelina. 

Whilst I didn’t get to this book before the end of March, I am intrigued by the story and I want to know about Victoria‘s endeavours to document what was happening at the start of the war between Ukraine and Russia. It sounds awful, and knowing Victoria lost her life in this battle is even more heartbreaking. Not only that, but it offers some very current insight into a conflict. We’re all very aware of (although maybe Israel/Iran and the cost of your petrol has superseded this now…) 

Let’s get it back on my monthly TBR and on the radar! 

 

April TBR picks

Fifty Things You Need to Know About British History

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I’m excited to pick this book up. I love non-fiction, and in particular this book about British history will definitely be appreciated. Unfortunately, a lot of my learnings at school were dominated with the likes of the boom and bust of the economy in the USA, the Cold War etc. 

I think it was a little remiss of my school program to neglect local history in its teaching. Nevertheless, I can remedy that with my own reading on the subject. Fifty Things You Need to Know About British History should give me a launchpad. 

 

Bag of Bones

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I always enjoy a Stephen King novel. In this particular case, Bag of Bones is a chunky Stephen King novel. At around 700 pages on its own, this monthly TBR promises to challenge me. I was going to say take me right up to the wire, but let’s be honest, it will take me into May… 

The TBR jar did me dirty here! 

 

Freakonomics

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I feel like this book could go one of two ways. It’s either going to be really interesting and tie together some unusual behaviours that impact our economy. Or, the synopsis hinting at this is a bit of a gimmick to get you to pick up the book and I’m going to be disappointed. 

Only time will tell I’m intrigued to pick up this book and find out. Fingers crossed, I’m wrong in my suspicion and that this book turns out better than I think it might. 

 

Onyx and Ivory

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Amazon Purchase Link

I’m glad a fantasy made it to this reading list and came out of the TBR jar. Honestly, I would’ve been surprised if it didn’t. I have a lot of fantasy on my list and by rights, the odds of one not being pulled out out of the jar would have been slim. 

Onyx and Ivory is also a good pick for me right now as it leans into the romantic genre – what I’m trying to read more of anyway. I feel like this is the kind of topical/trendy book that I’m actively seeking to engage with fans of. Let’s hope I’m a fan as well! 

Thanks for checking out my latest monthly TBR! What are you reading this April? 

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