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
I started reading To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo on Sunday evening and as I’m writing this (Tuesday lunchtime) I’m around 80% of the way through and really enjoying it. It’s very little mermaid-ish but a bit more bloodthirsty which I’m loving but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s going to be a favourite.
I’m going to see the author tonight where she’s taking part on a panel on YA sci fi and fantasy along with Elizabeth May and Sasha Alsberg.
I’m also still working my way (very slowly) through Why We Sleep by Matthew P. Walker. I’ve never been very good at getting enough sleep as I’ve picked up the worst bits from both my mum (waking up at 4am) and my dad (staying up way later than I should watching crap telly). I’m hoping this may help me get into some better habits.
Recently Finished
I’ve had a brilliant reading week mostly thanks to a weekend of doing very little (I took a break from the whole house hunting thing) and managed to finish three books. The first of these was In Bloom by C.J. Skuse which I’d received from NetGalley. It’s the sequel to Sweetpea and the best way I can find to describe it is as a combination of Dexter and Bridget Jones. It’s got that diary type format and follows the day to day life of MC Rhiannon, her relationships with family and friends, flirtations and brutal and bloody murders. It’s pretty dark and twisted but very, very funny. This time Rhiannon’s pregnant so there’s also all of the horror of that too 🙂
After In Bloom I picked up A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. I started it when I woke up on Saturday morning and had it finished by mid afternoon. I just loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. It’s a follow up to The Long Way to a Small and Angry Planet but is more of a companion to it rather than a sequel as it has a different setting and characters. Like it’s predecessor it’s a bit of a slow burner but I did really love the characters and there were some parts which absolutely broke my heart. I posted a teaser from it yesterday and honestly just flipping through the pages made me all emotional.
The final book finished this week was Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. I’d been slowly working my way through this for a while (I was worried it’d be triggering) but decided on Sunday morning just to sit (or that should probably be lie in bed) and read it. It’s kind of difficult to describe as it’s a kind of mixture of self help and memoir but it did make for fascinating reading and Haig is wonderfully honest and open about his experiences of anxiety and depression. It’s not prescriptive, there are no fix all cures but rather an acknowledgement that everyone is different but you are not alone in how you’re feeling. It left me feeling pretty positive and upbeat.
Reading Next
The third book in the Wayfarers series, Record of a Spaceborn Few, came out yesterday so I’m very tempted to read that but I’ve got another author event on the 2nd August in Edinburgh and haven’t read any books by two of the authors. Next up therefore will be the The Mermaid and Spare and Found Parts. My reading is feeling a little heavy on the sci fi and fantasy at the moment so I may also try to sneak a little romance in too with Challenge Accepted.
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.
Happy Reading ❤
A Bookish Life 
Well, I’m not sure that can be anything better than a book that leaves you feeling ‘positive and upbeat’. I’m loving that cover of The Mermaid!
Here’s my WWW link: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/www-wednesdays-25th-july-18/
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I don’t read a lot of non fiction and I was pretty wary about this but I found it so interesting. It’s great to hear someone else has experienced similar things and found ways to deal. I did cry but overall it left me feeling quite happy.
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To Kill a Kingdom is on my TBR list. I’m not sure I’ll reading but after reading your thoughts , I’ll make sure I’ll read it by the end of the year.
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I think it’s just suffering a little in comparison to some of my other recent reads unfortunately. If I’d read at any other time I probably would have loved it.
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I’ve heard Schwab is good, and I’ve been wanting to read that series. Of course, I haven’t made the time. I hope you enjoy!
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I loved the Shades series and have been really looking forward to Vicious. Hopefully I’ll make a start on it tomorrow.
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The way you described In Bloom has me curious! Dexter + Bridget sounds like s crazy combination. Plus, I love that cover.
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It is very sweary and a bit gruesome but as long as you don’t mind that it’s great fun. It is a bit English in some of the humour so I do wonder how well it’d work for an American reader.
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In Bloom looks like a book I might enjoy. Thanks for sharing…and here’s
MY WWW POST
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As long as you’re not easily offended and don’t mind lots of swearing and some pretty extreme violence it’s great. I found myself laughing a lot although even I cringed now and then.
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I’m going to have to read Why We Sleep because I have been fighting with insomnia for far too long. Although, it will cut dramatically into my reading time….. Here is my WWW: https://silverbuttonbooks.com/2018/07/25/www-wednesday-july-25-2018/.
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Hahaha I’ve been thinking the same. The biggest reason for me not sleeping is the whole “just one more chapter” thing.
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I really enjoyed To Kill A Kingdom!! I really liked that one. I hope you do too. Have a great reading week~
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I’m really wanting to check out the Wayfarers series thanks to your posts. I will likely pick up the first book sometime soon.
https://musewithmeblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/www-wednesday-2018-07-25/
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Fantastic. It is such a great series with absolutely wonderful characters. I hope you enjoy.
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I’m really curious about To Kill A Kingdom now! And I highly enjoyed Vicious, especially with the superpower twist. I hope you will enjoy your books this week and happy reading!
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It is nice and bloody although be warned there is quite a bit of romance (although no real love triangle).
I’m currently swithering between starting Vicious or Spare and Found Parts next. It probably should be the second but I do love Schwab.
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Hmm I guess I can stomach the romance if there is enough bitter to combat the sweetness. 😉
Vicious is quite different from her other two series, but I did really enjoy it anyway. I’m actually thinking of doing a reread in the future before I pick up the sequel Vengeful.
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