My exams are over! And in fact, the whole of my fourth degree — I won’t get grades until August, but I am pretty certain that I will graduate. I’m not taking any bets on how soon I will be enrolled in a new course, nor what the topic might be…
So let’s talk about books and celebrate!
Books acquired this week
Even though I had a book-buying spree not that long ago, the wishlist is never-ending, so between my wife choosing to indulge me a little to celebrate my last exam being over, and my British Library Crime Classic subscription book for this month, I have some new books lined up!
I also got approved for a book on Netgalley which I’m excited about: I read the first book, A Case of Mice and Murder, just last weekend, and ended up loving it!
I’m looking forward to digging into all of these!
Posts from this week
As usual, here’s the roundup of reviews posted this week…
- Poetry: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. Simon Armitage (5/5 stars)
- Non-fiction: A Mudlarking Year: Finding Treasure in Every Season, by Lara Maiklem (2/5 stars)
- Non-fiction: Planting Clues: How Plants Solve Crimes, by David J. Gibson (3/5 stars)
- Romance manga: A Side Character’s Love Story, vol 13, by Akane Tamura (4/5 stars)
- SF novella: Lost Ark Dreaming, by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (2/5 stars)
- Historical mystery: A Case of Mice and Murder, by Sally Smith (4/5 stars)
- Poetry anthology: Poetry Prescriptions: Words for Love, ed. Deborah Alma (3/5 stars)
And a What Are You Reading Wednesday post, as usual, chatting about recent reads.
What I’m reading
As ever, first up let’s do a little peek at the books I’ve been reading this week…
As you might have noticed, I’ve been reading a fair bit of poetry — mostly rereads, exploring the collection I built up when I was an English lit student during my first and second degrees. It’s nice to just read it for pleasure.
Anyway, as for my reading plans this weekend, I can’t really say I’m suddenly reading more now, because I’ve been all about reading in every spare moment for at least the last month — but it’s a little easier to relax with a book when I don’t have exams to think about!
My major targets this weekend are continuing my reread of The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System, finishing The Book Forger (Joseph Hone), and reading Cull of the Wild (Hugh Warwick). I’ve begun digging into the latter already, and I can sense it’s going to be conflicting…
Oh, and I’m looking forward to hopefully visiting people’s blogs a bit more actively once more! I always try to visit back, of course, but it’ll be good to spend a bit more time proactively visiting, and not just looking up at linkups. Still, forgive me if it takes a few weeks to get up to speed. I’m still quite tired, mentally!
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz, as usual!
Congratulations on finishing your last exam! A great looking haul of books. I like the look of A Case of Life and Limb.
Have a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/14/stacking-the-shelves-109/
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog recently posted…Stacking The Shelves
Yay for your exams being over and being spoiled with books! Have a great weekend and happy reading!
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #172 Sunday Post #169, Sunday Salon #163
Huge congrats on finishing your exams! Enjoy dinner well deserved fun time 🙂
Calypte recently posted…The Paradox Paradox – Daniel Hardcastle
Many congrats on finishing your 4th degree!
How wonderful that your exams are over and that you feel you will graduate! Though it has been forty years since I finished my last degree, I remember the relief I felt at being finished and the exhilaration I felt for those empty spaces on my calendar.
Thanks for sharing your ratings on these books!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: The 41st Classics Club Spin…and the Spinner…Stops…on…Number…
Congrats on finishing your exams! That’s definitely a reason to celebrate with books:-) Enjoy!
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…Buffy’s Corner 6/15/25 – Looking at the Week Ahead
Congrats on being done with those pesky exams! I was excited for the Mudlarking book but after reading your review I don’t think it would be my cup of tea.
Jinjer recently posted…Cleaning and Tidying