Yay, it’s the weekend! I feel the need for the chill time, since I had a horrible headache last night. And I have so many reading plans!
Books acquired this week
Last week I posted part of my birthday haul, but not all, as I was kinda spoiled and it was a lot. So here’s the rest, plus the books my wife got me to celebrate the completion of my degree!
First up, more books from my wife:
And here are the books from my parents and sister!
I’ve been digging into some of these already, and I can’t wait to read more.
Posts from this week
As ever, it’s been busy on the blog! Let’s see what we’ve got — first up, the reviews:
- Classic crime: The Odd Flamingo, by Nina Bawden (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Comic: Immortal Red Sonja, vol 2, by Dan Abnett et al (1/5 stars, “didn’t like it”)
- Fantasy romance:Â The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter: Magic Research Exchange Plan, by Yatsuki Wakutsu (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Historical fiction: The Sea Road, by Margaret Elphinstone (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Science: Preventable: How A Pandemic Changed the World and How To Stop the Next One, by Devi Sridhar (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
- Non-fiction: A Brief Atlas of the Lighthouses at the End of the World, by González MacÃas (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
- Fantasy manga: A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation, vol 10, by Misaki et al (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
And a couple of non-review posts:
What I’m reading
As ever, let’s start with a peek at the books I’ve finished this week which I plan to review on the blog!
A pretty good reading week, especially as I also fit in a couple of rereads.
This weekend, I want to finish my Book Spin Bingo reads: Paladin’s Strength (T. Kingfisher) and Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside (Victoria Shepherd) are the last two, and I’m most of the way through both of them. I also want to read more of Cackle (Rachel Harrison) and Rebel Bodies (Sarah Graham), but we’ll see — I’ve also got back to my playthrough of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and might have plans to game with people in Final Fantasy XIV as well. The most important thing is that I spend some time relaxing, regardless.
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz.
You have the best family! I love the titles your wife picked for you, what a varied selection. Enjoy
So far I’ve been having a lot of fun. 😀 It’s hard to decide what to read first, sometimes.
I’m still looking for that lighthouse book. Will add the Sea Road as you gave it such a high rating.
The Sea Road was lovely; I’d wondered if it might feel kind of dry, but I really enjoyed the way the story was told once I got into it.
Wonderful book haul and so great you got books from family. Happy Reading!
Angela (Angel’s Book Nook) recently posted…Stacking The Shelves ~ August 2025
They know what I like, ahaha. I think they’d have more trouble if I didn’t have a wishlist, but since I do, everyone picks me something that looks interesting to them. 😀
I hope you enjoy all of these when you get time to read them. Have a good weekend!
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #183 Sunday Post #180 Sunday Salon #174
Hahaha, that’s the key, isn’t it? I’m a fast reader but these birthday books will take some time to get through — oh noooo. XD
I really enjoyed visiting the Bayeux Tapestry when we were in Europe. The history behind it is also really fascinating!
Have a great week!
Marg @ The Intrepid Reader recently posted…Sunday Salon: Three mini reviews
I started on the book and I’m enjoying it so far! I thought I knew a fair amount about it from lessons as a kid, but there’s some interesting context that it’s adding, which is cool.
I always think of myself (perhaps a bit pompously!) as a person who roots out all the best nonfiction, but you never cease surprising me with a whole boatload of great reads—none of which I’ve even seen or heard of before. I need to get out my wishlist and add a bunch of these to it!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: Visiting My Sister in Waco
My favourite way to find non-fiction is just to go to a bookshop (especially a new-to-me one) and browse — the selection can be so different when curated by different people! And the other way I find them is by just following chains of “similar books” in web stores. Sometimes that’s pretty circular and you just find all the same stuff, but sometimes surprising stuff pops up. Oh, and the reviews section in New Scientist and sometimes Nature, super handy.
Great birthday haul (this half, anyway!), and fun list of books read. I like your descriptions of the stars (didn’t like it, liked it, really liked it…). Sometimes I feel like I need more than fives stars to differentiate, but everyone’s opinions are so different anyway, I should give it a score and move on, right? 🙂
Becki recently posted…Sunday Post/Sunday Salon – August 31, 2025: One Down, One to Go
Enjoy your new books!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…Sunday Series: Rescue Me series by Debbie Burns @_debbieburns ‪@recordedbooks.bsky.social‬ @stinanielsen.bsky.social‬ #LoveAudiobooks #SundaySeries