Category Archive

I was going to do a whole what I read during July post here but to my shame realised that I haven’t been reading very much at all and in fact haven’t finished a book since 17th June. So I looked at those books I had started and decided to put them aside for the moment (they all looked great and I want to read them when my brain is working a little better) and pick others that I could come to fresh and hopefully kick-start my reading mojo again.

I’ve long recognised that my ability to read is at its best when I have a range of books on the go at once and can dip in and out as I please, so I have come up with the following:

• Non-fiction – Inventing the Victorians by Matthew Sweet “delving into such Victorian passions as advertising, interior decoration, sex scandals and serial killers”
• Kindle – Osiris by EJ Swift – book one of the Osiris Project, dystopian sci-fi (and I have met the author who is just a lovely person)
• Hard copy fiction  – The Collini Case by Ferdinand von Schirach – a legal thriller translated from the german; I’ve seen several good reviews of this and have the added frisson of having stayed at the hotel in Berlin where the murder takes place
• Re-read – for the Horror Book Club meeting in August I am re-reading The Shining by Stephen King. It’s been a while so looking forward to re-acquainting myself with young Danny Torrance.

And though I may not be reading I am still buying books; I had an especially productive spending spree after the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club meeting on Tuesday last, where there were readings by Sophia McDougall, Emma Trevayne, Gareth Powell and Alex Lamb. All very different but all very enjoyable.

I am now fully back at work after my illness and unfortunately that’s coincided with a dip in my reading, probably because medication means that my brain is slower than normal and I can only manage one thing at a time so have focussed on getting back into the real world rather than losing myself in fictional ones.

I have also stepped back from any challenges though I’m hoping to re-read The Shining for the Horror Book Club meeting in August, partly because I haven’t read it in years and partly because it will also contribute to my tally for the 2015 Horror Reading Challenge and I do like a two birds with one stone scenario.

I haven’t been buying lots of books recently, but have picked up the following in the last couple of days, mainly as a result of going book shopping with friends who were stocking up on reading material for their holiday.

It would have been really impolite not to join in 😀

So….

• The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters – everyone knows about this one and I’ll probably be the last person in the universe to read it and in a pleasant twist it was actually a present from my friend Silvery Dude
• Empty Space by M John Harrison – I know nothing about this book at all but thought it sounded intriguing and only when I got it home did I realise that it was the third in a trilogy; luckily we already have the first part and I will hunt down the second shortly
• The Rival Queens by Nancy Goldstone – as some of you will know the 16th Century is my thing and the Book God drew this to my attention; it’s the story of Catherine de Medici and her daughter Queen Margot and it looks fascinating
• The Fault in our Stars by John Green – a download recommended to me by a friend who thought I would enjoy it; I know a tiny bit about the story because of the movie version but that’s all, and I like YA so I’m definitely going to give this a shot.

I’m hoping to get my reading mojo back this week, especially as I have a business trip on Wednesday and will be travelling for 7 hours or so and thus will have no excuse.

So I didn’t write a post last week because I hadn’t really been reading very much and I had also been a bit unwell and travelling (though luckily not too much overlap between those two things). This week has been quite a bit better, in that I actually got some stuff finished, largely due to a long train journey from Edinburgh to London where I (mostly) managed to avoid staring out of the window at the passing countryside and finished a chunky novel.

But there have also been medical appointments (which will run into next week too) which are a feature of having a chronic condition and you would think would lend themselves to further reading opportunities but unfortunately I get too anxious and unsettled and find myself occupied by Twitter instead. So all I had to show for it all was a selection of snarky tweets and a bruised hand from an unfortunately difficult blood test. I do not give blood up easily (insert the obligatory Scottish joke here) and I’ve been trying to convince everyone I was actually in a fight. A surprising number of my friends seem willing to believe that of me which is a bit alarming 🙂

So last Sunday I took a run at and finished A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (magnificent), and followed it up with the new Sarah Lotz horror novel, a book of Nick Hornby columns from The Believer magazine, and the last two of the eight Byrne and Balzano detective novels by Richard Montanari which I have devoured over the past 5 weeks. This is unusual for me as I like to pace myself when reading a series, but these were just too enjoyable to put down and exactly what I needed when finding reading difficult.

Or at least I thought I was finding reading difficult but I have still managed to read 11 books in May, though to be fair 6 of those were the Montanaris. The downside of all the stuff I’ve mentioned above is that I now have a tidy stack of reviews to write next week.

I have lost count of the number of books bought this month (that’s the joy of the Kindle app, they are invisible to anyone else but also a little bit harder to keep track of myself) though clearly my interest in murder continues.

I’m currently reading a second volume of Hornby and I have dipped into White Apples by Jonathan Carroll; there are only 3 weeks left in the Once Upon a Time Challenge and I haven’t read anything for it yet.

Not sure what the coming week will be like; more medical appointments definitely but I’m mostly working at home, so will try to see what I can squeeze in around the day job.

A very quiet week where I just haven’t been reading very much.

Having said that I’m actually in the middle of Tony & Susan by Austin Wright as recommended by @jpsmythe (excellent author via Twitter) and have just started Housekeeping vs the Dirt by Nick Hornby because when not sure about what to read the best thing (IMHO) is to read about stuff that others have been reading (albeit what they were reading 10 years ago).

I did finish one very short book though, The Art of Stillness by Pico Ayer, recommended by my friend Silvery Dude which I will read again I’m sure, much to think about in terms of disconnecting from modern life when you can. This is one of only (only!) two books that made it into the house this week (the other being Forensics by Val McDermid which looks great.)

Oh, and I joined a thing, The Horror Book Club which meets in central London. None of my friends read horror really, so I’m hoping this is both an excuse and an outlet. I will be throwing myself into The Hellbound Heart for my first meeting in June, I’ve never read much Barker so hoping this will be fun.

And finally, some of you will remember my struggles with Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, famously abandoned after two separate attempts. Well, the TV adaptation starts on the BBC this evening, and I’m going to watch it. Lets see if that’s more successful than reading it 🙂

Last week passed in a bit of a blur with Bank Holidays and conferences and General Elections and parties and days off. Don’t quite know where I am…

Challenges: I still haven’t started my reading for Once Upon a Time IX but I will get there soon. Honestly. And I really really mean it this week 🙂

In progress: I have been working my way steadily through the crime novels of Richard Montanari whom I mentioned last week, and much to my surprise (because I had fully intended to take a break halfway) I have now read six out of the eight published. Really enjoying them but planning to pick up something different for a change of pace. Probably Tony & Susan by Austin Wright which came recommended from a couple of people fairly recently.

New Books I’ve bought eleven book since the beginning of the month but to be fair five of those were the Monatanaris mentioned above, two were pre-orders and one is for a book club read in June. So in my twisted logic they somehow don’t count 😀

Pleased to say that after a few weeks of not reading very much I have started to get back into the swing of things

Challenges:

I still haven’t started my reading for Once Upon a Time IX but I will get there soon. Honestly.

In progress:

As I said the last time I posted, I pulled Child 44 from my TBR pile so that I could read it in advance of the film being released in the next few weeks, but good grief it’s grim and depressing and absolutely not the thing I wanted at the moment so I have set it aside. And I’ve just heard a review of the film which suggests it’s boring so I may just ignore it all together.

What I am actually reading is a non-fiction memoir-y sort of thing about stationery. Yes, stationery. The first chapter is a short history of the paperclip and it is great, so a piece of light relief.

What has got my reading  mojo is discovering an American author new to me called Richard Montanari. I’m working my way through his gritty serial killer Byrne and Balzano novels and they’re really great fun (if books that are based on lots of people being killed horribly can be said to be fun, but I love that sort of stuff). I have polished off the first two and just started the third. Of eight.

New Books

I’ve bought a lot of books in April but who cares; I don’t 😀

Events

Since my last post I’ve managed to miss (because of work and health issues) a couple of bookish events, but I did make it to Waterstones in Piccadilly to hear Sarah Pinborough interview Deborah Harkness and Victoria Schwab about their new London-based novels. I haven’t read either of them before though I was thrilled to find out that I have one of Deborah H’s non-fiction books about science in the 16th century which is my sort of thing.

So looks like I’m getting back to normal, but we shall see 🙂

Reading still a bit slow this week though, having briefly set it aside because I really wanted to finish it but wasn’t quite in the right frame of mind, I galloped through the second half of Frances Hardinge’s Cuckoo Song which was very enjoyable in a dark and creepy sort of way 🙂

But this week, because I was only at work for two days and the rest of the time I was on a break, I have mainly been binge-watching TV on my iPad which has been very relaxing.

Challenges:

I still haven’t started my reading for Once Upon a Time IX but have at least selected the book I’m going to start with, so that’s progress of sorts, and I’m considering whether the Hardinge could be included in this challenge (given it’s about a changeling) as well as the horror reading challenge. I probably won’t decide until I actually sit down to write my review.

In progress:

I have pulled Child 44 from my TBR pile so that I can read it in advance of the film being released in the next few weeks, but good grief it’s grim and depressing and I’m only working through it very slowly indeed.

New Books

I’ve bought four or five books this week though it’s worth pointing out that two of them were pre-orders. I also managed to walk into a physical book shop and after some browsing walk out without buying anything. I had to lie down in a dark room afterwards to cope with the shock 😀

All back to normal this week, so hopefully more reading time.

Reading slumped a bit this week and I haven’t read anything much at all over this Easter weekend, which is a shame. But I did finish reading the new Christopher Fowler novel (Bryant & May and The Burning Man) and thoroughly enjoyed it (though I haven’t written my post on it just yet).

Challenges:

I completed the TBR Double Dog challenge; my wrap-up post is here if you’re interested in how I did. I also completed the King’s March challenge and was pleased with the three novels and two short stories I read in the month. I really like these shorter, more focused challenges and may look out for some more.

I still haven’t started my reading for Once Upon a Time IX but have at least selected the book I’m going to start with, so that’s progress of sorts.

Oh, and I did write up the first quarterly update on my progress with the 2015 Horror Reading Challenge which you can find here. I was slightly astonished at the number of horror titles I’ve read since the beginning of January, I must really be in the mood for the darkness 🙂

In progress

I am still reading the Hardinge novel which I’m now about halfway through. But I have decided to abandon both Jane Eyre and The Voyage Out; I just don’t have time to spend on books I’m not enjoying. I know I’ll come back to Woolf in the future, as I keep on talking about a major re-read of her works, but I may write a DNF post on the Bronte to talk about why I’ve given it up.

New Books

So the self-imposed book-buying embargo finished on 31 March and I did indeed go on a bit of a spree, downloading a number of eBooks. It was very enjoyable and nice to carry out a major refresh of my TBR stack but I’m not going o make a habit of it 😀 (says she, fingers crossed!)

I can see light at the end of the tunnel in relation to work and a couple of long weekends are on the horizon so although I’m still not reading huge amounts I’m pleased that I’m ahead of my target for the year.

Challenges:

My tally for the TBR Double Dog stands at fourteen books (although I have actually read seventeen in total). I’m not sure this is going to change with only two days left in the month but you never know 🙂

I squeezed in another Stephen King novel (Cell) for the King’s March challenge. I seem to be one of the few people who actually quite likes this (though it is not his best, it was just what I needed).

I haven’t really started my reading for Once Upon a Time IX but will definitely get into it this week, and I am continuing to re-read The Voyage Out, though I’m only a couple of chapters on so far. I delayed the start to line up with others who were opening the book on the anniversary itself (which was 26 March, fact fans!)

I keep on forgetting that I’m also taking part in the 2015 Horror Reading Challenge. I’ll be posting the first quarterly update on my progress soon.

In progress

I got my hands on the new Christopher Fowler novel (Bryant & May and The Burning Man) and started it immediately – couldn’t even wait until I got the book signed, which I did at Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue. This is a series I have been following religiously and this newest entry is a corker. I am also continuing to read Kipling and Hardinge (as you can see from my sidebar).

The Jane Eyre Update

I have still only read three chapters but intend to make progress this week. I’m not going to let this linger like Jonathan Strange – if I don’t make headway over Easter I am going to set it aside.

Events

I was lucky enough to attend a Bloomsbury Institute event with Priya Parmar, and I wrote about it here. If you are at all interested in the Bloomsbury Group you should read this excellent novel, I thought it was lovely and enjoyed my chat with the author (and have a lovely signed copy now).

New Books

The only new book was the Fowler mentioned above but I am glad the embargo is nearing its end. I was a little unwell on Saturday and it took a real effort not to go on a bit of a spending spree. But I have a shopping list and come midnight on Tuesday there may be some download action going on!

A much better week and quite a bit more reading done and new challenges and bookish things coming up so I am in a very good mood. For now at least 😀

Challenges:

My tally for the TBR Double Dog stands at thirteen books (although I have actually read sixteen in total).

I re-read (and was pleased to find it stood the test of time) Carrie for the King’s March challenge.

And today I signed up for Once Upon a Time IX with a launch post which you can read here. That’s a long list.

Oh and I’ve decided to re-read The Voyage Out, Virginia Woolf’s first novel which celebrates the anniversary of its publication this week.

In progress

I finished the very wonderful Vanessa & Her Sister in plenty of time for the Bloomsbury event on 24 March, and I’m also now just short of halfway way through Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge. And I decided I would also try to squeeze another Stephen King novel in so on Saturday afternoon I started Cell which I had completely forgotten I had until it caught my eye while I was looking for something else, and I’m working my way through that at a rate of knots.

The Jane Eyre Update

I have actually made a start with this and I’m three chapters in and already finding Jane herself to be a bit of a pain but I’m going to persevere, though I need to get moving.

New Books

No new books this week. I am counting the days until the embargo finishes and I can go on a wee bit of a spree.

There are a couple of lovely bookish events coming up this week so it’s all very exciting.