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?
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?
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.
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!
As a blogger and book reader/reviewer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I love to share my love of reading. Or, that I want to press books into your hands. In today’s post, I share my favourite books to recommend. That might be because they are from my favourite genre or author, offer something unique or are great for readers of all levels.
I’ll explain the why’s and wherefore’s for each book as we go. For now, here are my top books to recommend!
Fantasy
A Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire
It shouldn’t be a surprise this series makes it to the top of my recommends list. If I were only ever allowed to read one series again, I’d pick this hands down!
I love the storyline, the complexity, the intricacy and detail we get to enjoy. My only preference would be for the series to be complete… but I’ll just have to wait for that!
The Realm of the Elderlings
Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings series is a fairly new discovery and addition to this list. I’d been meaning to pick up Assassin’s Apprentice for a good while before my friend Rachael encouraged me to read it.
Since then I’ve read six out of the sixteen books in the series in the last two years. Considering the number of books I read, I’ve gotten through these comparatively quicker than most other series I’m reading.
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson is another favourite author. I debated which series of his to feature here, as I’ve read quite a few. At least, in part. However, the one that got me into his writing the most, and the series I’ve read in full, is his Mistborn series.
I was so sad to reach the conclusion but I’d happily re-read this from start to finish again! I especially loved how the timeline change was handled and how we see advancement in the world between the timelines. It’s for that reason that I will recommend this to any fantasy reader!
Harry Potter series
Whatever your feelings are on the author, I think it’s important to separate their work from their personal life. I can’t say I’m all too versed on the controversy about J.K. Rowling. And anyway, I’ll love the Harry Potter books regardless.
The books start off pretty easy to read but get quite dark towards the end. Personally, I love that! I grew up reading these books in my teenage years so I was always the perfect age to read them. Even re-reading them as an adult, I enjoyed each and every book.
Lord of the Rings
Whilst not the easiest books to read in terms of superfluous language and descriptions of food, they make a great storyline. The fact that I intend to re-read the books gives you an idea of how much a fan I am.
They’re also favourite books to recommend as they’re classics in the fantasy genre. I’ve also read The Hobbit and this is a great starting point to the books. However, if you are looking for a classic trilogy of books to immerse yourself into, Lord of the Rings is a natural choice.
Nevernight Chronicles
On the other end of the spectrum, I also can’t recommend this trilogy about a young female assassin with a serious vendetta enough. Mia is quite the character, and her character history, development arc and the setting are all really enjoyable to dig into. The narrative is great, but as a unique addition, the book includes footnotes with everything from contextual information to snarky commentary. They’re hilarious!
Jay Kristoff is an author I’m reading more of, but this was the series that introduced me to his work. I initially listened to this series on audio but I want to re-read with the physical copies I own in future.
Blackwing
The Blackwing trilogy is a favourite to recommend because I don’t think enough people have read it! If you love magical fantasies with great, detailed worlds and most of all, non-altruistic main characters, this is up your street.
Ryhalt is a great character because he doesn’t try to be. He’s selfish and rude, lacks optimism in humanity. He is far from your ideal hero, and yet he finds himself wearing these shoes reluctantly.
The storyline, world building and support characters make this a fun and engaging trilogy to read. Seriously, why are you still here? Get reading!
Non-fiction
This is Going to Hurt
I recommended this to my work book club as a future read as Adam Kay is hilarious. This is Going to Hurt is a discussion on the state of the NHS as it provides the best care it can for those who need it. However, it’s also full of personal, heartfelt and funny stories too.
If you love a dose of humour, this is a favourite book of mine to recommend. A heads up though – it is an emotional rollercoaster…
Contemporary
The Midnight Library
You can also tell that The Midnight Library is a favourite book to recommend as I put it forward as our work book club’s first read. And you know what? It went so well!
Although Adrian and Claire admitted it wasn’t a book they’d have chosen for themselves, they enjoyed it. We also had a great conversation about it too. It’s focused on mental health, individuality, choices and regrets. It’s a book I’ll re-read over again as it’s a great reminder of what’s important in life. It really puts things into perspective.
Satire
Discworld series
If humour and tackling a multitude of real social issues is your thing, but set in a fantasy setting, may I introduce Discworld by Terry Pratchett. As of this favourite books to recommend post, I’ve read half of this 41 book series. Even so, I’ll happily recommend the whole series!
I love how Terry talks about real world issues in a setting that takes us out of reality. Does a young woman trying to gain admission to university to study magic and being pushed back because she was born a girl instead of a boy sound ridiculous? Well I hate to break it to you, but not so long ago, women faced the same push back.
That’s just one example. The way Terry tackles each societal issue makes adequate light of it to make it funny to read, but also make a point at the same time is entertaining but also interesting social commentary.
So, those are my favourite books to recommend! What are yours?
Good evening fellow readers and welcome to my Sunday Summary update for this week. I have a great week of reading progress and content sharing to cover with you. As regular readers will know, I always like to recap those before diving into the reads I picked up this week. Let’s take a look at those now.
My first post of the week was a book review of Golden Son by Pierce Brown. I’d originally held off reviewing the book as I had mixed feelings about it. My review was originally meant to go live on Wednesday but I ended up taking an extra day to edit and perfect it.
My next post went live on Friday and that was a Shelf Control post. In that post, I featured a young adult magical fantasy sequel that I really need to pick up soon. It’s been a while since I started the series, let’s just say that…
Books Read
The Power of Habit
Reading progress on The Power of Habit started strong earlier this week. Over the course of the first half of the week I read another 80 pages, bringing me to around 180 in total.
I ended up temporarily putting this aside for another book as I need to have read that second one by Tuesday next week. As soon as that’s done I’ll be back to reading and finishing The Power of Habit.
The Other People
This week I made the final push on The Other People and finished this audiobook on Monday. In reality I had less to read before the end than I expected as the audiobook had a sample of another book on the end.
I enjoyed this story and how it all unfolded. I understand completely why The Other People is a favourite of mum’s. The storyline is gripping and full of revelations. I had a theory there was one more revelation to come about the Samaritan, and it became apparent who he was at the end!
If you enjoy mysteries or thrillers, I can strongly recommend The Other People.
Breathtaking
After completing The Other People I started listening to Breathtaking by Rachel Clarke.
A non-fiction about the Covid-19 pandemic may not be up everyone’s alley right now. I’m sure it feels far too raw for some, but I was ready to read this hands-on experience.
Rachel is a hospice nurse who ends up volunteering to help in Covid-19 wards at her local hospital. In the 60% of the audio I’ve listened to so far, we see her and other medical professional’s perspective of the pandemic unfolding and how the NHS transforms to meet the crisis head on.
I’m really enjoying this audio so far. The fact I’ve listened to so much in one week testifies that! I hope to finish this over the next week, so stay tuned to see if I do.
The Midnight Library
I’ve temporarily put The Power of Habit on hold so I can re-read The Midnight Library ahead of book club on Tuesday. As of this Sunday Summary I’m 148 pages, or 51% through.
As I’ve already read the book before it’s been a breeze so far. I had also been told it’s better second time around, and so far I agree!
I have more to read before that chat on Tuesday with my work colleagues, so I’m going to spend less time talking about it here so I can get back to reading it 😊 I’ll give you the details in next week’s Sunday Summary.
Books Discovered
I’m on a good run here as I haven’t bought any books or added anything to my reading list in about a month now! Given that last haul was about 14 books though, I still have some way to go on the buying ban yet!
Coming Up…
Mid next week I intend to share my first post of the week. In that post, I’ll be collating my favourite books to recommend to readers and why!
On Friday I’ll be back with a First Lines Friday post! I’m not setting myself any particular goal or challenge for this post. I’m keeping it entirely open so I have full freedom of choice on the book I select.
Last, but not least, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary update this time next week. Find out where I’m up to with my latest reads in that post!
Until then, have a fabulous week however you spend it and I look forward to seeing you in the next one!
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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