The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.
To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
- What are you currently reading?
- What did you recently finish reading?
- What do you think you’ll read next?
Currently Reading
My reading is a bit all over the place at the moment, I keep starting books then changing my mind so technically I’m probably partway through about five. My main focus at the moment is however on Force of Nature by Jane Harper which I received from NetGalley. I started it on Monday and unlike the other books I’ve started since the weekend it’s definitely holding my attention. It’s the follow up to The Dry (although it could be read as a standalone) and I think may turn out to be even better.
Still no progress on Frankenstein I’m afraid. I wandered off and started listening to something else over the weekend so this was put on hold.
Recently Finished
The team reading challenge I’m participating in is still playing havoc with my reading plans at the moment, which is proving to be both good and bad. I’m finally getting the push to read those books that have been on my TBR for years but the timing is not always right for my mood and I have found myself having to rush them at times to meet a deadline. I have however finished x books this week which is pretty impressive for me.
The first book finished this week was Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu (technically I finished it last Wednesday but I’m still counting it). This was one of those books I’d bought ages ago but had been putting off due to all of the hype around it. I’m always super wary of hyped books (particularly YA contemporary) as they often disappoint, but this was one of the exceptions.
It’s not perfect (I wouldn’t say it was a five star read) but I did find myself really enjoying it and think I read the whole thing it a couple of days. It’s about the girls in a school who get fed up being treated as second class citizens and decide to take action. It’s got a really strong feminist message but doesn’t get preachy so one I would recommend all YA’s read (girls and boys).
The next book finished, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, was all about the boys. Two 15 year old Mexican-American boys in fact, Aristotle and Dante, who become friends and discover some unexpected truths about themselves and the world around them. Unpopular opinion time, I didn’t love this. It may just have been that I was in the wrong mood for it (I’ve been working 60 hour weeks, totally stressed and still not completely free of that virus) and didn’t have much empathy for two teenage boys moaning about not fitting in / no one understanding them but the style didn’t really work for me either. It just seemed too episodic, jumping from one scene to the next with no real story (or point). I could appreciate a lot of the writing but sorry I just didn’t enjoy it.
The third book finished was RL bookclub book The Dry by Jane Harper and at long last we finally have a book club pick I really enjoyed. This is a murder mystery set in small town Australia during a drought. It’s not a fast paced or particularly original story but what I really loved was the sense of atmosphere the author created. It reminded me a little bit of Tana French’s stories where the focus is less on the murder or the action and more on the community and the detectives. I think this is going to be a new favourite series for me.
The fourth and final book finished this week was the audiobook of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This was a bit of a random pick to fit a challenge task but I’m glad to have listened to it. I saw another reviewer describe it as a fable and I think that word describes it perfectly. I did really enjoy this, it’s not very long and has quite a simple story but does make you think. The one thing that I didn’t like about it is the way it portrays women. There are almost no women and those there are seem to be there solely as love interests or as an interference to the hero’s personal legend.
Reading Next
I’m going to see Pierce Brown at his Glasgow book tour stop tomorrow so I had been hoping to read Iron Gold before then but realistically that is never going to happen. I do still want to read it though so hoping to pick up at the weekend. I also have a couple of ARCs which are due to be published in February, The Belles and The Last Laugh so hopefully I’ll make a start on them too.
Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Any others you’d recommend? As always please feel free to leave comments and links below. I may be a little slow responding this week again due to work pressures but I’ll get there eventually.
Happy Reading!!
A Bookish Life 
I’m currently reading The Dry, so I can read the next one. I agree with the comparison to Tana French. I’m so interested to see where the series goes. Have you read Becky Albertalli? My fave YA books at the moment. Actually for a while!
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I love Becky Abertalli. I am however in the minority in that I preferred Upside of Unrequited to Simon vs.
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Me, too. Almost, ha!
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I finally picked up The Dry since I have been haring so much about it. It exciting to hear you compare it to Tana French, I really love her books.:)
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I’m a big Tana French fan too. Absolutely loved The Trespasser. The Dry is definitely along the same lines as Tana French’s books. Quite slow paced but a lot of atmosphere and twists and turns.
Everyone in my book club I’ve spoken to so far really loved it.
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So, great minds think alike right? I have almost exactly the same thoughts about both challenges and the danger of hype! I have had Moxie on my radar for a while but now I know I want to read it. Great review!
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I am loving this challenge but I have probably picked the worst possible time to be doing it as it’s taking up so much time and I can’t make my ARCs fit the tasks. Are you doing any challenges at the moment?
I always seem to have the unpopular opinion so you can pretty much guarantee if everyone loves a book I probably won’t. I’m just contrary 🙂
Moxie was great. I’d really recommend.
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Honest contrariness is always appreciated. I am doing a bunch of challenges for 2018. My link for my challenges is https://silverbuttonbooks.com/2018-challenges/. Check them out if you get a chance!
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Just had a look and I see you’re doing Book Riots challenge. I’ve always been a a bit scared of that one. Some of those prompts are hard.
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I keep seeing Iron Gold…and that reminds me that I need to pick up Red Rising this year. I have been wanting to read this series for awhile!
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Red Rising annoyed me to start with as it seemed like a bit of a Harry Potter/ Hunger Games rip off but it was actually going to listen to Brown talk about them a couple of years ago that changed my mind about them. The whole series is kind of a homage to his favourite books and shows.
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I keep seeing The Dry all over the place on blogs. I seriously think it’s stalking me and won’t give up until I add it to my TBR!
Here’s my WWW link: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesdays-31st-january-18/
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Just give up now and add it. You won’t regret it. 🙂
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Done! 😀
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Sad to see that you didn’t enjoy Aristotle. it was my favourite read of 2016 but I can see why you didn’t enjoy it, it does have an episodic feel to it. The Bells is one of my most anticipated reads, hope you’ll enjoy it.
Here’s my WWW https://keeanareads.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesday-jan-31-2018/
happy reading ❤
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The books are all new to me. I thought your review on THE DRY was good enough to encourage me to think about reading it. My link is
https://idahobluebird50.com/2018/01/31/wwws-wednesday-january-31-2018/
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Would certainly recommend the Dry. I managed to pick it up at a bargain price on Amazon a few months ago. It’s not very fast paced but very addictive.
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I will see if it is on a sale price on Amazon.
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I enjoyed The Dry, so I’m looking forward to A Force of Nature. Moxie looks tempting. Enjoy your week, and here’s MY WWW POST
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I’m around a quarter of the way through Force of Nature and really enjoying it. Found it so easy to get into and I’m liking the 5 go into the woods only 4 come out storyline.
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I have seen mixed reviews for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe! I’m guessing it’s a Marmite book? It looks interesting but I’m not convinced I’d get into it.
I read Frankenstein last year and it’s not my favourite classic, that’s for sure. I liked most of it but some scenes were a little long and I lost track a few times. Also, I found the ending to be a massive letdown, but I don’t want to spoil it!
Here’s my WWW: https://sarinalangerwriter.com/2018/01/31/www-31st-january-2018/
Happy reading! 🙂
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A lot of the writing was brilliant I just wasn’t so sure about the style, it felt a little jumpy, and was really in completely the wrong mood for it.
I started out quite well with Frankenstein but now the pov has switched to his creation I’m finding it a tad slow. I’m sure I’ll get back into it at some point. After that the final part of the collection is Dracula.
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I’m such a fan of the Red Rising series -hoping to get to this one soon! https://teripolen.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesday-what-am-i-reading-amreading/comment-page-1/#comment-11919
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Other than the ending (I didn’t like the final reveal) I loved Red Rising too. I do really want to pick up Iron Gold soon but it’s just such a big book to carry around.
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I just picked up The Dry not too long ago and have been meaning to read it. I have been hearing nothing but good about it for so long!
Here is my WWW:
musingsofabookishnerd.com/www-Wednesday
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I’m like you at the moment flicking between various books. I have 2 books of short stories on the go; one in particularly is dragging on…urgh! I’ve heard lots of good things about The Dry so should probably pop that on the TBR.
Here’s my WWW – https://bookboodle.co.uk/2018/01/31/www-wednesday-january-31st
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I’m starting to think I just OD’ed on YA contemporary and fantasy and needed something a bit grittier. Since I’ve started Force of Nature I’ve kind of settled down a bit.
I always find short stories a bit of a struggle. I usually feel like I need a break between every story so it can take me an age
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Once I’ve finished these short stories I won’t be in a hurry to pick up anymore. The should be read as an accompaniment to another book!
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I’m really interested in hearing more about Force of Nature! I’ve been seeing it around a lot lately. Here’s my WWW post https://www.boundtowriting.com/www-wednesday-january-31/
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I think it comes out this week or next so there’s a lot of buzz around it particularly as The Dry was such a popular book. So far I’m really enjoying it.
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I haven’t read Moxie yet, but I would love to read it!
Here’s my WWW Wednesday:
https://rabbitearsblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesdays-12-january-31-2018/
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It’s a really addictive and enjoyable read. I hope you enjoy it if you manage to get to it.
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I’m glad you enjoyed The Dry so much, it’s always great to feel like you’ve found a new series that you’ll love. I hope Force of Nature lives up to it for you. I really want to start The Dry soon. Hope you enjoy your reading in the coming week 🙂
My WWW post: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesdays-31-jan-what-are-you-reading-this-week/
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I’m sad you didn’t love Aristotle and Dante. I’ve heard such great things and wanted to read it. But, we all have to have unpopular opinions at some point. 😉
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I genuinely think it was due to me reading it at the wrong time. When I’m stressed and tired my empathy for teenage issues tends to disappear. I suspect if I’d read while relaxing on holiday I would have loved it.
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I’m sorry you didn’t love Aristotle and Dante. I have to admit it’s been a few months since I read it and I don’t remember it jumping around very much. I listened to the audiobook and Lin Manuel Miranda did such an amazing job I might not have noticed, haha. Happy reading and thanks for participating in WWW Wednesday!
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It does follow in sequence it just didn’t feel like the various events were joined up. It seemed to jump from one thing to the next. I think it is one that would work great as a audio.
Thanks for hosting
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Nice list! Moxie sounds really interesting, and I really want to read Belles! I did WWW Wednesday at my blog too 😀 Happy reading!
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Moxie was great and really addictive. I’m currently around halfway through the Belles and it’s going well.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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I think fable is a great way to describe The Alchemist… Or parable. I read it last summer while substitute teaching and the idea really resounded with me. And ah! Frankenstein! I’ve been dipping in and out of watching Penny Dreadfuls lately and he is in the show. My WWW: https://reachingwhilerooted.com/2018/01/31/www-wednesday-01-31-18/
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Ooh I really like parable to describe it. I did get a little frustrated with the end and also the role of the women but it was such a nice little story.
I still haven’t seen Penny Dreadful even though I’ve always been meaning to.
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Glad to hear you enjoyed/are enjoying Jane Harper’s books. I have a copy of The Dry but I haven’t got around to it yet. I also really like the sound of Moxy!
Here’s my WWW.
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The Dry and Force of Nature were brilliant and it was great to read a book set in Australia, there are just so few of them (or at least that’s how it seems). Most of the chat at bookclub was how we have no concept of what that kind of environment during a drought is like. It’s permanently raining here 😂
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Haha! I have known times when the grass is brown and literally crunches under foot. And the water restrictions are very sucky.
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I’m looking forward to both The Dry and Force Of Nature! They sound like really good reads… Enjoy your books this week and happy reading
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I think you’ll really like both as long as you’re ok with a slow and steady pace. Thank you.
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I actually see where you’re coming from with Ari and Dante- the thing with that one (for me) is that I appreciated the writing style, but at the same time that kept me feeling kind of distant to the characters, so while I liked it, I didn’t get as much out of it as I wanted to.
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