Stacking the Shelves

Posted October 7, 2017 by Nicky in General / 22 Comments

Good morning, folks! I’m not quite over the cold yet, since I have a horrible cough that won’t shift, but I’m doing better. And, I ended up with a whole stack of books from London/friends/etc. Woo!

Update on the me:

As you can see below, it still hasn’t been a good reading week. I’m just so tired. I have a few books on the go, but nothing’s sticking very well. Mostly I feel like reading non-fiction, but I’m mindful of the fact that most people are here for my fiction reviews, and don’t even read non-fiction, so I do need to keep up with the fiction content!

Although, maybe that’s the problem. I do view keeping my blog interesting as being a job, and reading ARCs as a job, sometimes. Maybe that’s taking the fun out of it a little — but on the other hand, I get fun back from running a blog people enjoy and engage with, so… Hm.

Anyway, other than that, you may have noticed that I’ve got my green lock showing my site is now secure! With the help of Lynn O’Connacht, who is very patient and hosts my blog for free, my site is now secured and fit for anything.

In other news, I’m away from the bunnies again, and you know what that means. Here is Hulk, showing everyone she’s a civilised lady and can sit at (well… under) the dinner table.

New books:

Cover of Built on Bodies by Brenna Hasset Cover of Science and the City by Laurie Winkless Cover of Goldilocks and the Water Bears by Louisa Preston Cover of Bring Back the King by Helen Pilcher

Cover of Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews Cover of The Five Daughters of the Moon by Leena Likitalo Cover of After the Bloodwood Staff Cover of The Occasional Diamond Thief by J.A. Mclachlan

Cover of Going For Stone by Philip Gross Cover of Summerlong by Peter S. Beagle

Some good non-fic picked up at the New Scientist Live event, and a bunch more fiction to keep me occupied. Hurrah!

Read this week:

Cover of Bring Back the King by Helen Pilcher Cover of Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn Cover of The Servants, by Michael Marshall Smith

 

Reviews posted this week:

The Wimsey Family, by C.S. Scott-Giles & Dorothy L. Sayers. A little piece of, well, whimsy, covering the background of Lord Peter’s family in bits and bobs pieced together from letters and piffle. 4/5 stars
Mask of Shadows, by Linsey Miller. Mostly, this felt a little bit too much like Throne of Glass and The Hunger Games, though the genderqueer protagonist was an interesting touch. 3/5 stars
A Rare Book of Cunning Device, by Ben Aaronovitch. A fun audio-exclusive. Not essential to the broader plot of Peter Grant’s story, but a good aside and a perfect narrator. 4/5 stars
Leonardo: The First Scientist, by Michael White. A readable and apparently well-sourced biography of a great thinker. 4/5 stars
Drawing Breath: the Making and Unmaking of Tuberculosis, by Kathryn Lougheed. A lot of stuff I didn’t know about TB itself, and a wake-up call if you didn’t know that TB is very far from being unmade. 4/5 stars
The Secret History of the World, by Jonathan Black. Not about what I thought it was about from other reviews, sadly. 1/5 stars
The Carpet Makers, by Andreas Eschbach. A reread of a carefully crafted favourite. 5/5 stars

Other posts:

WWW WednesdayThe weekly update on what I’ve been reading

So how’re you?

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22 responses to “Stacking the Shelves

  1. I think we all, book bloggers, have the same problem. We do see the blog as a second full time job. I do feel like it is a full time job sometimes. I’ve learned that we need to enjoy it otherwise we’re gonna get burned out. You’ve done awesome. Lots of book reviews in a week. I only managed one this week. Way below my target but it’s ok. Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week filled with awesome books. Read whatever you’re in the mood. I do love reading non-fiction book reviews. ❤️

    • Thank you! <3 I actually schedule my reviews weeks and weeks in advance, because I read so fast, haha. So I'm currently writing reviews for... November, I think!

  2. I hope you are able to beat that cold and get rid of that cough soon! My daughter has been sick as well. She missed her soccer game today as a result. 🙁 I think you should read and review nonfiction books if that’s what you are in the mood for! I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I do enjoy it from time to time and am always on the lookout for more recommendations. Love the photo of Hulk! Such a beauty.

    Your new books look like a lot of fun! Several of those sound really good to me. I see you read Kitty and the Midnight Hour. I look forward to your thoughts on it. I really enjoy the series. I’m way behind though. . . I’ve also read The Servants.

    I hope you have a great week and enjoy your new books! Feel better!
    Literary Feline recently posted…Weekly Mews: September Wrap-Up & What Should I Read Next? (October’s My TBR List Poll)My Profile

    • I’m aaaaallmost better now, after a couple of days of not doing much at all! Hulk is very grateful for you calling her a beauty — she has an ego the size of her butt. 😉

      I didn’t love Kitty, unfortunately, partly because of the subject matter of the first book. I’m considering reading the second to see how I get on with it without the abusive characters of book one.

  3. Book blogging is a tough balance between hobby and chore. I have decided to limit the number of ARCs I review per month, so I have time to read for fun, as well. I like the cover for The Five Daughters Of The Moon. I have put it on my TBR on Goodreads. Have fun with your blog and books.

    • I need to limit the number of ARCs I request, I think. They’re always so tempting, but… I can wait for the book to be released in most cases!

  4. I think you should read and review anything you want 🙂 Speaking personally, I don’t read much non-fiction, but I’m still interested to see what you’re reading and your reviews of them 🙂

  5. Sometimes blogging does feel more like a job! I’m in the middle of another reading slump where all I want to do is flop in front of the TV. Glad you’re feeling better…someone has given me the cold too and I’d have LOVED a day in my bed but just my luck, I’m waiting on an Amazon delivery. Gah!

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