What I've been reading this week (17th - 23rd July)

Hello there! What have you been reading this week? I've felt like I've had a little less time and concentration for reading this week, but I've still read some excellent things and made progress on a couple of my reading goals.

I'm really getting into short fiction more at the moment, and the below are two wonderful examples. I'm also half-way through listening to an audio version (at Escape Pod) of the excellent, Hugo-nominated That Game We Played During the War. Can't wait to listen to the rest.

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.
This week I started my re-read of His Dark Materials (in preparation for the release of the first volume of The Book Dust in October). I'm nearly half way through this first book in the trilogy and really loving it, both for the story itself and the chance to re-discover all the little details I forgotten since the last time I read it. I love the world-building in this book, the creation an intriguing "universe like ours, but different in many ways." That's one of the things I enjoyed most about this book the first time round, and that hasn't changed for me since.

Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu (writer) and Sana Takeda (artist).
My goodness, the artwork in book this is gorgeous! The story is also very dark and intriguing. I'm about two-thirds of the way through and on the whole enjoying it, though I have found it a little dense to get into. Takes a lot of concentration, and time to absorb the story and details properly, but feels worth it.

Owl Vs. The Neighbourhood Watch by Darcie Little Badger.
I listened to the podcast of this story earlier in the week. It's a pure and honest depiction of depression, mania and fear of catastrophe. I loved the use of the Owl mythology, it created a visceral impression of the depth of the narrator's fear, and also something very real to confront. Overall, I found this to be a moving, magical, and ultimately (I think) hopeful story of living with mental illness.

A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers by Alyssa Wong.
This is a bewitching, breathtakingly raw story of two powerful sisters, "apart and together". There is a real sense of fierce desperation threaded through this story. The looping timelines carry the reader with them, circling and weaving around a story that is rich in its telling yet cleverly holds back the specifics. Beautiful.

4 books that rescued me from my reading slump

As I've mentioned previously, my year got off to a painfully slow start reading-wise. Nothing seemed to grab me and I felt like I was getting through books at a snail’s pace (and I'm not a super speedy reader to start with). I don’t know if I wasn’t really finding the right books, or if my brain was just too much elsewhere, but this reading slump was proving annoyingly difficult to shake off.

Fortunately, things started to pick up around mid-March, thanks to some really excellent books. I want to share the four that really grabbed me the most. It was an amazing feeling to all of a sudden have my enthusiasm back for reading!

1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – This one was a re-read for me, but it has been about 5 years since I last read it, so it felt very fresh and just as terrifying and shocking the second time around. More so, in fact, given the terrifying state of affairs in the world today (it doesn't really stretch the imagination too much to consider how the events of the book could come to be). I read this for a book group, and reading and discussing a book with others was also a great way to jump-start my enthusiasm for reading again. As you can imagine, there was a lot of discussion to be had about this book! It was a very invigorating experience.

2. The Power by Naomi Alderman – This book was already on my radar (mostly because I’m a big fan of Zombies, Run!) but it was also recommended at the book group I mentioned above. I brought it almost straight away, and read it soon after. This book is gripping, thought-provoking and fascinating. It explores some really interesting themes around gender, power, control and fear, though a really creative and engaging central premise and story. Stayed with me for a long while - chilling and powerful.

3. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor - I discovered this book via a BookRiot list entitled 100 MUST-READ YA BOOKS FOR FEMINISTS AND FEMINISTS-IN-TRAINING and thought it looked like my cup of tea and brought a copy out of curiousity. I’m so glad I did – this book was a absolute joy to read, bursting with imagination, and so gripping too. I found it hard to put down. I'm now working my way through Nnedi Okorafor’s other books. I’ve read both Binti and Home (read last week), and have a ordered a copy of Who Fears Death.

4. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - I found a copy of this book for a £1 in a charity shop, which seemed far too good an offer to miss for a book I had already heard so much about. Warm, witty and deeply absorbing, this book is one of my favourites of the year so far. The plot in essence is simple, but the characterisation and world-building were so rich and exciting. Each place, each character, each detail felt so real and believable. Beautiful, moving stuff.

I am so glad I "found" these books. My reading has felt re-focused since, my tastes re-defined a little, and overall I feel so happy to spend time lost in a good book again. And off the back of these books, I have discovered so many others. I don't think I'll be at a loss for something to read any time soon.

What I've been reading this week....

This week has been a fairly productive reading week for me. I've read two short stories, finished two books, and started another. Not bad at all by my slow and easily distracted standards! This also included two items for my Hugo Awards goal - I'm up to 5 now (plus half-way through reading two other), so well on track to have read at least ten by the time of the awards in August.

I've really enjoyed everything I've read this week, which is always a wonderful feeling. Hope you have had a excellent week too :)

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
I always worry when reading a follow up to a book I adored that it won't live up to my expectations. Fortunately, this book didn't disappoint. I found it to be a heartwarming, enjoyable read from start to finish. The characters were vivid and warm, and the book's exploration of identity, purpose and belonging for both organic and AI characters was really compelling. I loved the way the Sidra and Pepper's stories wove together - beautiful stuff.

Home by Nnedi Okorafor
I am so glad I have discovered Nnedi Okorafor - the strength and scope of imagination in her writing is such a joy to read. I love the way this story blends the traditional, the magical and the technological in its world building. (Maths! Spaceship fish!) And Binti is such a wonderful character and her story is gripping and moving, exploring themes of trauma, personal identity, and family expectations. I can't wait for for the next instalment.

Our Talons Can Crush Galaxies by Brooke Bolander
This story is short but my god is it mighty. I am in awe of what the writer managed to do with so few words. It's beautifully raw, the imagery stunning, and the no-nonsense way it reclaims the narrative of the victim is incredibly powerful. I also loved listening to this one as read by Erika Ensign on Uncanny Magazine Podcast Episode 13A, and the interview in the same episode with Brooke Bolandar was a fascinating insight into her writing processes and inspiration.

The Evening and the Morning and the Night  (from Bloodchild and Other Stories) by Octavia Butler
This story is haunting. I found it an engaging yet chilling read, a tale of social exclusion and neglect of the sick and vulnerable. It presents a frightening yet (sadly) all too believable world. This is the second story I have read so far in this collection (the other being Bloodchild itself - what a story!). I really enjoyed reading them both, but I especially loved the afterwords by Octavia Butler, exploring the inspiration behind her ideas.

The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley
I haven't read much of this collection yet (just the first section - "Level Up"), but what I have read I've really liked. It's fierce, passionate and honest. I especially like the discussions of the importance of persistence and community. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of this book and can already tell I'll probably checking out some of Hurley's fiction in the near future too.

3 mid-year reading goals

Well, hello there! It feels like a long time since I have written in this blog.... and it has been - over two years now. Shocking! I have no idea where that time has gone. (Probably to the same place all my good intentions for blogging went, those elusive little buggers.)

The beginning of this year was a slow one for me in terms of reading. I was in the middle of an ugly reading slump that was proving difficult to shake off, and didn't really start to disappear until mid-March. Because of this, I didn't set myself any reading goals or projects at the start of the year, so have decided to set myself a few mid-year readings goals instead. I feel in the mood for a more focused approach to reading again.

So, without further ado, here are my new reading goals....

Read at least 10 items from the list of finalists for the 2017 Hugo Awards:
I've always been interested in SFF, but this year I've really started to engage with the genre much more. This was the one thing, more than anything else, that helped me fall in love with reading all over again. I decided therefore that this would be a good project to help me explore and grow into the genre further. I already have A Closed and Common Orbit waiting for me on my bookshelves, The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe downloaded to my Kindle, Monstress on order from the library, and a number of the short stories bookmarked to read. I can't wait to get started.

Read at least 5 sci-fi classics:
I'm not exactly sure how best to define a "classic", however my aim here is to complement my first project with some backlist reading. I want to finally read some of those books that I've always said "I really must read that some day..." about, to explore the titles that have shaped the genre. I read The Left Hand of Darkness a couple of months ago and will definitely be including another of Ursula K. Le Guin's books in this list, as well as at least one by Octavia Butler. The rest I haven't decided on yet, but I am interested to see what journey this project takes me on.

Re-read Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials:
This final project has been on my to-do list for a while, but with the publication of La Belle Sauvage this October now is the perfect time for it. I have really fond memories of first time I read Northern Lights as a young teenager, and I still have the same (now somewhat battered) copy I read then, which has a picture of Iorek Byrnison on the front. It's probably the book on my shelves I have owned the longest.

I am really excited and giddy just thinking about all three of these goals (in my own quiet, introverted way). If you have any suggestions (or things to avoid!) for the first two, I'd love to hear them. I really want to get back into blogging to expand my reading horizons, so recommendations are always welcome :)

Ferbuary/March Round-up (8 mini reviews)

I have been a very bad blogger recently. Not a single post since the end of January! To get me back in the swing of things, let me tell you a little about what I've been reading over the last couple of months....

1. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (★★★★ 4 stars). This book perfectly captures everything I love about J.K. Rowling and her writing - powerful storytelling with lots of heart and a social conscience. The characters are so well crafted and each narrator utterly believable. I loved the way that for each POV character, Rowling explored their most raw thoughts, feelings and prejudices, invoking both outrage and sympathy. This book shines a light on some truly abhorrent attitudes and prejudices. At the same time, it asks the reader to take a difficult step towards questioning our own attitudes, to let go of judgements and misconceptions, to be a more decent, compassionate human being. This book is bold, honest and challenging - highly recommended.

2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (★★★★ 4 stars). This book is one of my favourites of the year so far. I have a real weakness for post-apocalyptic stories, so I knew this book would be my cup of tea as soon as I heard about it. I certainly wasn't disappointed. I loved this book's exploration of what a world following the collapse of civilization might look like, but I also really enjoyed the sections of the book set beforehand, in our own familiar, modern world. One of the things I like best about this book was its subtle examination of what it means to live and survive in each of these two worlds. This is a story about survival, not only in some hypothetical future, but in the here-and-now, in a world that can at times seem very impersonal and superficial.

3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (★★★★ 4 stars). This book is a very satisfying read, one of those beautifully-told stories you can get absorbed right into and makes you feel utterly content when you finish it. It is wonderfully atmospheric with a gripping mystery at its centre, lots of past secrets and tragedies to uncover, and a fantastic cast of characters. It is also a book about books - something I am always a fan of. I'm very glad I finally got round to reading this one (it has been on my shelves for years) - well worth it.

4. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs (★★★ 3 stars). I read the first book in this series a little over a year ago (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - reviewed here). This book continues the tale of Jacob and the other "peculiar" children and is equally enjoyable as the first. It is fast paced, exciting and original, and at times rather creepy. I did find it a little hard to get into at first, but once I did I was hooked. This book is great fun - nothing mind-blowing, but an entertaining and fantastical read with lots of suspense.

5. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (★★★ 3 stars). I was really excited to be reading this book. Although ultimately it didn't captivate me as much as I'd hoped, it is still a powerful and intelligent read that explores a lot of interesting questions relating to personal and collective memory, identity, war, love and death. It doesn't provide the reader with the answers they might crave, but is instead thought-provoking, inviting them to ponder these themes for themselves. A very imaginative, intelligent and heart-felt read.

6. Children of Men by P.D. James (★★★★ 4 stars). I have wanted to read this book ever since seeing the film adaptation (which I loved). Although I knew that the book was very different, I was surprised just how different it was. However, for me this was a good thing as it meant the story was completely fresh and unknown. I found this book to be a very inventive and gripping read. The plot was interesting, but what I loved most about this book was its very believable world-building and the exploration of humanity's response to its own slow demise.

7. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (★★★★ 4 stars). I picked this book up on a whim at the library and I'm very glad I did. This book is a fascinating, intelligent read that at times I found very hard to put down. The narration style is unique and the story jumps back and forth in time to slowly reveal and explore the secrets of Rosemary's very unique childhood. This book is a highly original, moving look at family, love and separation. It's hard to go into much more detail without spoiling a central twist, but I thoroughly recommend this book if you haven't read it already.

8. The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (★★ 2 stars). I loved the idea of this book and really enjoyed it to start with, but sadly I found myself growing frustrated with it as it went on. The plot was a bit predicable and unoriginal and the pacing rather uneven, painfully so at times. That's not to say I hated this book. I really liked many of the characters (Joanna is awesome!) and was enchanted by the magical, alt-history Regency-era setting. But unfortunately, for me, that just wasn't enough to make this book an enjoyable read.

All in all (with the exception of the last one), I have read some great books recently. I hope you have too and would love to hear any recommendations. I have just started reading Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck, which I am very much enjoying so far.

What I've been reading in January

Wow, how is it the last day of January already? This month has flown by! The start of 2015 has been a bit of hectic one for me, lots going on, some of it good, some of it much less so. Thank goodness for being able to curl up under my cosy blanket of an evening with a good book and a cup of tea. I think I'm trying to hibernate.

So far this year, I have finished three books, all of which I have enjoyed (though to very varying degrees). Here they are....

1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (★★★★★ 5 stars). I loved this book. It's a big, old doorstop of a novel, packed full of rich, vibrant storytelling and utterly gripping from start to finish. It was a perfect blending of fantasy and historical fiction, two my favourite genres. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book is written in the style of the period in which it is set. For me, that made it all the more absorbing. Overall, one of the best books I have read in ages. Can't believe I didn't get round to it sooner!

2. A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond (★★★ 3 stars). This book is a unique, lyrical re-telling of the classical Orpheus myth. This is one of those books that draws you in right from the very start, with a first page that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the tale:

"I need to cast the story out and live my life. I'll tell it fast and true to get it gone, right now, while darkness deepens over the icy North and the bitter stars shine down. I'll finish it by morning. I'll bring my friend into the world one last night then let her go forever. Follow me, one word then another, one sentence then another, one death then another."

This book is beautiful, heart-breaking and raw. The supernatural/mythological elements are spell-binding and beautifully written. However, one of my favourite things about this book is how grounded it is in the real world. David Almond's descriptions of the characters' haunts in Newcastle and the wild Northumberland beaches are so vivid. His characters also feel powerfully real; the voices, thoughts and feelings of young people on the cusp of adulthood captured beautifully. While overall there were things about this book that just didn't work for me, it's nonetheless still a great read and beautifully written.

3. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (★★★ 3 stars). I've heard lots of good things about this book and thought it would be my cup of tea. Sadly, although I did enjoy it for the most part, it didn't "wow me" as much I'd hoped. I loved the setting of "New World" and the concept of Noise was fascinating. There were also some incredibly powerful and bold scenes. However, as the book progressed I found the constant cycle of danger and escape became a little tedious. Also, there was a lot of information that Todd, as narrator, withholds for much of the book that is too easy to guess, meaning there isn't that sense of shock when it is ultimately revealed. This said, however, I am still more than intrigued to know what happens next so I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

My current read is The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. I'm only on page 96 but I am really enjoying so far. After that, I'm hoping to read either Station Eleven or Hollow City, depending on which arrives first at the library. Then on to tackle my TBR pile in earnest!

Hope you have had a good start to 2015. What have you been reading and what are your plans for February?

Wednesday is Library Day

I like Wednesdays. Wednesday means the week is more than half over, the weekend a little bit closer. But more importantly for me, on Wednesdays my local library is open later, until 7pm, which means I get the chance to stop in at the end of the day. I find this the perfect antidote to a busy/tedious day at work. Nothing lifts my spirits more. I love the feeling of hurrying home with more books in bag than I left the house with, more stories waiting to be explored.

At present, I have two books on loan and two reservations pending.

• A Song For Ella Grey by David Almond. I am just about to leap into this one. It sounds amazing, though I confess it was the beautiful cover that first drew me to it.
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. I have heard lots of Good Things about this one, so I'm very eager to see if it lives up to the hype (I think it will).
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mendel. I know I have already said it, but I can't wait for this one to arrive. I have seen so many great reviews and it does sound exactly my cup of tea. I'm now very near the top of the waiting list for this one - yay!
• Hallow City by Ransom Riggs. This is the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children which I read at the end of 2013 (reviewed here). Although I found the first book flawed, I nonetheless really enjoyed it and can't wait to see how the story continues.

That little stack should hopefully keep me busy for a while. What library books do you have out at the moment, and are there any you're excitedly waiting to arrive? Oh! And while I'm on the topic of libraries - don't forget Saturday 7th February is National Libraries Day here in the UK. Check out their website for more information and events near you and follow on Twitter for bundles of library love and appreciation.