Do you ever get incredibly frustrated when you LOVE a book, can’t wait for the sequel and then it disappoints you?
I get this feeling a lot, so traditionally I’m rather slack at actually reading sequels when they come out…
But while I was away, I wanted to smash through a fair bit of my TBR, and so I determined to finally read a few of the sequels lying on my shelf.
One Dark Throne – Kendare Blake (3/5 stars) Read more
I have taken an unscheduled hiatus over the last month. I went travelling and when I launched back into everyday life, I just couldn’t bring myself to blog!
But I’m back. I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired, so instead of doing a recap as such, I’m going to do mini reviews grouping books on similar themes.
Be prepared for a little influx while I get back into the rhythm!
A terrible start to the week, with some two-star ratings, but it picked up fairly quickly. Unbecoming and P is for Pearl were incredible, gut-wrenching YA novels, Spill Zone was a great graphic novel, and I adored Death on the Nile, my second foray into Agatha Christie. But ten books in one week is not bad at all!
Adventures of a Compulsive Traveller – Dominic Dunne (Australian author) (2 stars)
I wanted a fantastic travel memoir, I got something that could have been written by a washed out politician. The only interesting thing I discovered from this book is that there is a museum in Croatia called The Museum of Broken Relationships – I definitely want to visit. However, I remember nothing about the rest of the places Dunne visited. I didn’t find his style engaging or humorous…
And Then You’re Dead: A Scientific Exploration of the World’s Most Interesting Ways to Die – Cody Cassidy & Paul Doherty (2 stars)
This felt like it was written for a child, but the content was quite adult. I am rather interesting in death and morbid things at the moment, but this book honestly bored me to tears… At least I know I can’t die from boredom?
Unbecoming – Jenny Downham (4 stars) Read more
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where book enthusiasts can show off their newest additions to their collection!
9 new books this week! I have been coveting Knowledge is Beautiful for ages! It is a really really beautiful book presenting knowledge in interesting ways. I was also lucky enough to attend an event with Jessica Townsend, the author of Nevermoor, and I had my book signed. This is the next big thing in children’s books and I am so excited to have two signed copies!
Kids:
My friends have been telling me to read this book for AGES! And now that I know there is a movie coming out next year, I grabbed the first copy I saw!
My overall favourite this week, and a strong contender for favourite of the year was The Growing Season! It is just amazing scifi. I also really loved the beautiful The Museum of Words by Georgia Blain and middle-grade mystery, The Lie Tree.
The Growing Season – Helen Sedgwick (5 stars)
I read The Comet Seekers earlier this year, also by Helen Sedgwick. I loved the writing, but wasn’t 100% sold on the story. However, I still thought I would give her another try. And I am THRILLED that I did! This book is phenomenal. It takes place in a world like ours, only pouches have been developed so that women do not have to carry babies and face the pain or risk of childbirth. Instead, the burden of carrying the pouch can be shared between parents. In this world, the task of child-rearing is more equal too. But FullLife, the company behind the pouches, has been hiding things. And Eva, an anti-pouch campaigner, is determined to reveal it to the world. Together with her ex, journalist Piotr, she searches for the truth. Why is FullLife suddenly promoting natural birth? The story was fascinating! Told through audio logs from an unknown older woman who developed the pouch, through the eyes of Eva and Piotr and Holly, the first woman to carry her child in a pouch. Beautifully written and a completely fascinating science fiction about women. Pertinent issues about abuse and misogyny were also raised, though more on the periphery than as the central story. Fascinating and completely brilliant.
The Truants – Lee Markham (3 stars) Read more
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where book enthusiasts can show off their newest additions to their collection!
Far out! I didn’t think I could be WORSE than last week! But here we are – thirteen new books! OOOOOPPPPSSSSIIIIIEEEESSSS! But there were way too many good things in the bookshop this week!
Bought:
Why did I get two copies of this book you may ask? BECAUSE IT IS SO BLOODY GORGEOUS! Too excited about this! Also, I might have a problem…
It wasn’t a bad reading week at all, though it felt slow while it was happening! Some of them were pretty skinny though! Favourites were Wayfarer and The Subtle Knife!
The Subtle Knife – Philip Pullman (5 stars)
HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT WILL? He was basically my first crush and I kind of forgot about him completely! HOW? Anyway, this book is glorious and wonderful and I encourage EVERYBODY to read the series. Audio is a fabulous way to get into it, but so are the books!
In the Midst of Winter – Isabel Allende (3 stars) Read more
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where book enthusiasts can show off their newest additions to their collection!
I well and truly broke any semblance of a ban this week… OOPS! Twelve new books! Oh no, my TBR might actually crush me soon! Soooooo excited about meeting the lovely Jane Harper this week! And I can’t wait to get stuck into so many of these books!
Bought:
Time travelling thieves – what else could I possibly want from a story???
I started listening to The Northern Lights on audio this week, and it is amazing – everyone get on it NOW! I found a lot of the books I read this week slow to start, but I ended up enjoying them all! Cruel Prince and Zenith were my next favourites – so much fantasy this week! I’m hoping I’ll get through a greater stack next week; it’s been a bit slow…
The Northern Lights – Philip Pullman (5 stars)
Absolutely fantastic! I’ve been meaning to reread the series before The Book of Dust comes out in October, and audio was a perfect opportunity! There is a whole cast of voice actors which makes listening a really great experience. I had forgotten how wonderful the stories were. Lyra is a ballsy, wonderful character and her adventures are just wonderful. The armoured bears, the daemons, dust, Oxford, the alethiometer – all of these things come together to create a fantastic story. I also think I took a lot more away from it reading as an adult rather than a child.
Zenith – Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings (4 stars) Read more
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews where book enthusiasts can show off their newest additions to their collection!
Another seven books this week – no money spent, but STILL! This needs to slooooowwww down….
Borrowed:
What good friends I have! Revenger is a book club book that I didn’t want to buy, and my library is never open when I have the time to visit… Artemis is SUCH a beautiful ARC – I’m so thankful my lovely friend entrusted it to me for a small moment! And the other two are Australian YAs which I always ADORE!
Bookshop Job: Read more
The Book Addict 