Recent Reads & my Growing TBR Pile

You may remember back in frozen January, I made a pledge to read more this year. A lot more.

In an effort to be accountable for my reading I thought I’d share the books I’ve read. These are all since May, and as you can see my TBR (to be read) pile is rather large.

To see what I read from January through April click here.

Books I Have Read (since May 2018)

1. The Exit by Helen Fitzgerald. This is one of those books that’s starts off unassuming, with annoying characters, I really wasn’t sure about sticking with it. But just as I doubted where it was going, it builds into a full-on sinister modern-day thriller. A macabre story that I won’t forget.
2. How To Stop Time by Matt Haig. I don’t think I need to say much about this. Critically acclaimed and now being made into a film. This book is compelling and easy to read. A magical novel, I read this in 24 hours.
3. Slaves of New York by Tama Janowitz. This book I found on holiday and it’s a collection of short stories. Some of which intertwine with characters crossing over. Others are stand alone, but all are set in New York in the eighties. Really enjoyed these shorter snippets. If you can recommend any collections of short stories then please let me know.
4. The Time Travellers Wife by ‎Audrey Niffenegger. At the end of this book, I reflected on my time with it and I really enjoyed it. But during my read of this much-loved novel, I found myself a little bored, wanting more action, I found it hard going at times. I felt like it could be a little shorter and it would still get the emotional journey across. Thoughts??
5. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland. This, inadvertently, is like a Visit Australia campaign, but way more authentic. Honestly, Australia is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go but now I’m like, I need to go. This book has such a strong sense of place. Whilst reading you can feel the heat, smell the sea and hear the kookaburras and other noises you (probably) only get down under. Getting to know Alice Hart and the people in her life if like getting to know a new friend as she unravels her past before you.
6. Inheritors of the Earth: how nature is thriving in an age of extinction by Chris D. Thomas. This is a non-fiction book which questions the generally held theories of what is going on in nature. He brings a brilliantly convincing argument which includes things like more new species are being discovered than going extinct. How, despite adversity, some creatures are thriving and adapting to the new human moulded world. Worth a read, if you are interested in the planet, our future and perhaps need something away from the doom and gloom that seems so prevalent with this subject.

Currently Reading

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I’m hooked, halfway through.
2. The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them by Elaine N. Aron. Dipping in and out of this, and reflecting on my own childhood, along with picking up tips on bringing up my HS daughters.

On my TBR pile

I hasten to add these are my library loans, I’ve loads more books that I own but haven’t read yet!

Many of these books are recommendations I received after sharing parts of my novel in the CBC course I’ve just completed.

1. The Geography of Witchcraft by Montague Summers
2. The Complete Art of Witchcraft by Sybil Leek
3. The Martian by Andy Weir
4. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
5. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
6. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
7. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

What are you reading right now?