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 The Mermaid by Christina Henry on Sunday evening but have to confess I haven’t made a huge amount of progress with it so far. I am going to see Henry, Victoria Schwab and Sarah Maria Griffin on Thursday night so I was kind of hoping I’d be further through but I’ve got an hour or two on the train tomorrow so hopefully I’ll make some good progress. What I have read I have enjoyed, there’s something very fairytale like about the writing, so I am looking forward to reading more.
On audio I’ve been listening to The Princess Bride by William Goldman and it is making me so happy. It does seem to be an abridged version which is a little disappointing but I absolutely love this book (and the film) so I’m not too upset. It’s still got most of the classic lines and the narrator, Rob Reiner, while not really doing much in the way of voices, does tell a pretty good story. It is making me want to track down the film and maybe read the book again (and again, and again). Inconceivable!!!
Recently Finished
I overdid things a bit last week as a result of trying to work crazy hours, attending author events and other stuff so needless to say my anxiety flared at the weekend and my system went into meltdown (not good). On the plus side it kind of forced me to just stop and take things easy which meant lots of reading, watching movies and sleeping. I’ve therefore managed to finish three books, the first of which was To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo.
I really liked this Little Mermaid based YA fantasy. There are a lot of little nods to the Disney version of the story, which made me smile, but this is a much darker take on it. Lira, the Ariel of the story, is a siren and daughter of the Sea Queen/ Sea Witch. She takes great joy in literally ripping the hearts out of princes. Elian is a Prince who hunts sirens to protect his kingdom (and the hearts of the other Princes). When Lira upsets her mother she is turned into a human and has to steal Elian’s heart or lose her life but can she get close enough to him and if she does get to know him will she be able to kill him. I loved how violent and dark this was and really liked the relationship between Lira and Elian but there’s something holding me back from loving the whole thing. Maybe it’s just a little too predictable (I felt like I’d read it before) or maybe it’s just my other recent reads have had so much more depth that this couldn’t compare but it didn’t wow me.
The second book finished this week was Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin. It’s a kind of dystopian sci fi take on Frankenstein and tells the story of Nell Crane, the girl with a clockwork heart who decides to build an android from some parts she finds. I had some mixed feelings on this one in the beginning but it really grew on me. I was very sympathetic towards Nell and loved her as a character but there’s just something questionable about building a person as a companion for yourself. Like the original story it raises questions over what makes you human/alive and whether anyone has the right to create life for their own selfish reasons.
The third book finished was Matt Haig’s Notes on a Nervous Planet which I’d picked up from the library. It’s about how the changes in the world, which seem to be happening at a rapidly increasing rate, are responsible for an increase in stress, anxiety and other mental (and consequently physical) illnesses. I wouldn’t necessarily say that there’s much we haven’t already heard but Haig gathers all of the different theories and stories together in a very compelling and easy to understand way.
Reading Next
I was hoping I’d be able to read Vicious by V.E. Schwab before I see her at the event tomorrow night but not sure I’ll have the time. If I don’t manage to start it tomorrow I think it’ll be going on the back burner for a bit so I can switch back to the mountain of ARCs I have waiting to be read. I feel like I really need a break from sci fi and fantasy (and mermaid stories in particular) for a bit so I think I’m going to try and pick up The Miseducation of Cameron Post next. I did however get approved for Tessa Dare’s latest book at the end of last week so there’s a fair possibility I’ll ditch everything and read it instead 🙂
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 
I’m glad you enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom, I loved it! Vicious is on my TBR as well, I’m hoping to pick it up from the library.
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I love the cover of the Tessa Dare book – I hope the content lives up to it. Here’s my WWW link: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2018/08/01/www-wednesdays-1st-august-18/
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Little Mermaid retellings seem to be doing the rounds lately – there’s another one I’ve come across, I think it is has the word “dreaming” in the title. I haven’t read anythingby Christina Henry but I know her books are quite popular so I’l be interested to hear your thoughts. Have fun at your event this Thursday!
Here’s my WWW
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I seem to be reading nothing but mermaid books. As well as To Kill a Kingdom and The Mermaid I also have Surface Breaks and Sea Witch lined up to read soon.
I’m midway through The Mermaid now and it’s very different. It seems to be based on PT Barnums Feejee mermaid hoax but with an actual mermaid. The Barnum in the story is very different from the character in The Greatest Showman which is really throwing me.
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You’re seeing some authors.. have fun Ali. 🙂 🙂 I’m glad you at least liked TKAK, I loved that one. Maybe because I haven’t read much retellings of The Little Mermaid . 🙂
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I know. I love going to see authors but as someone with a history of panic attacks in crowded spaces it can be stressful hence my weekend meltdown. I am looking forward to tomorrow as I love all 3 authors.
I haven’t read many mermaid retellings either. I suspect it was just my mood that meant I didn’t love as much as everyone else. Plus I’d just finished A Closed And Common Orbit which blew me away.
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I forgot we have the same problems with crowds.. Hope you get through it today. Let your love for books and these authors prevail. 🙂 🙂
Maybe. 🙂 I checked A Closed and Common Orbit and it’s a part of a series, I put them on my TBR. 🙂
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The Princess Bride is on my list of books I want to get to this year. I really need to get going on that soon!
https://musewithmeblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/01/www-wednesday-2018-08-01/
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You really should read it. I just love it so much. Have you seen the film? I swear I’ve watched it about 100 times and pretty much know the script. The book is just as good.
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The Princess Bride is the absolute best. I doubt it is an abridged version, Goldman just made it sound like he was abridging a much older tale when he wrote it. I could be wrong but it feels, inconcievable! When you finish, I highly recommend Cary Elwes book and his recollections of filming the movie. It is magical. Here is my WWW: https://silverbuttonbooks.com/2018/08/01/www-wednesday-august-1-2018/. Have a great week!
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It’s only about 3 hours long so I’m pretty sure it’s been cut down. I read it a couple of years ago and remember a much longer introduction and some backstory for Fezzik (prob not how you spell this) which isn’t in it. I’m still loving it but I do want to read it again.
I’ve had As You Wish on my tbr for ages. I might just pick it up next.
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Darn. Ah well. I didn’t even know there was an abridged version but at least Rob Reiner is reading it! I loved As You Wish, I hope you get the chance to read it.
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Neither did I. Only figured it out when I started listening and spotted bits missing. It is making me so happy regardless.
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I’m such a Victoria Schwab fan – loved Vicious, and looking forward to the sequel. Have fun tomorrow night! https://teripolen.com/2018/08/01/www-wednesday-what-am-i-reading-amreading-11/
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Enjoy your books! I am curious about The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Thanks for sharing, and here’s MY WWW POST
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It does seem to get some great reviews so I’m really looking forward to it.
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I’ve not read any of Matt Haig’s non-fiction but have read The Humans which I really liked. This month we’re reading The Last Family in England for book club! Enjoy your author event this week, it’s been ages since I’ve been to one! 🙂
Here’s my WWW – https://bookboodle.co.uk/2018/08/01/www-wednesday-august-1st/
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I still haven’t read The Humans. The only fiction book of Haig’s I’ve read is actually The Last Family in England. I really liked it, Haig’s writing is brilliant, but it is a little on the sad side (I cried a lot).
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Oh, I love the cover on The Mermaid book! And Spare and Found Parts sounds so good! So intrigued by your reads this week 🙂
Here’s my post: https://andreawoldjohansen.com/2018/08/01/www-wednesday-august-1st/ 🙂 Happy reading!
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Listening to The Princess Bride sounds like so much fun — even if you’re stuck with the abridged version. I might have to try that some day!
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