As a head’s up, I’m away over the weekend, down in Wales for the interment of my grandparents’ ashes, and there’s no broadband connection at the house now. I will visit back and reply to comments as usual, but maybe not until Wednesday or so (it depends how long my phone’s data lasts me, and how much time I spend online). That doesn’t mean I’m not enthusiastic to talk books and see what you’ve been reading as usual!
Books acquired this week
I wasn’t expecting to have anything, but then I finished the last volume of Solo Leveling that I owned, and remembered I had a gift voucher… and also, my British Library Crime Classic subscription book arrived. So I ended up having some nice book post after all!
I dived on Solo Leveling right away, while waiting for everyone to be ready for the drive down to Wales. The story comes to a climax, and I was sooo eager to see what happens, and the books were the perfect length to finish up before we left… though I admit I hadn’t expected to have time to finish both of them.
I also grabbed a book from the library to read on the drive, since I’ve been curious about it a while:
I’ve read this already as well!
Posts from this week
A quick roundup of the reviews posted this week:
- Non-fiction: 100 Dresses, by The Costume Institute (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
- Graphic novel: Fence: Rivals, by C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Fantasy: Into the Riverlands, by Nghi Vo (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Fantasy romance: Gwen & Art Are Not In Love, by Lex Croucher (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Non-fiction: Rebel Bodies: A Guide to the Gender Health Gap Revolution, by Sarah Graham (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Non-fiction: The Postal Paths, by Alan Cleaver (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
Other posts:
What I’m reading
I’ve been reading a lot this week, so hold onto your hats — here’s the preview of the books I finished which I plan to review on the blog!
 
Over the weekend, it’s likely that I’ll read quite a lot because of the lack of broadband. I actually set up a mini-bingo card to keep me occupied, so I guess my next read (and very appropriate too) will be focusing on finishing Tir: The Story of the Welsh Landscape. After that, probably The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry… but we’ll see! As ever, I’ll follow my whims.
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz.
Sudden panic that I’d skipped a day of my weekend! I hope everything goes okay for you tomorrow.
calypte recently posted…The Thursday Murder Club (2025)
The interment itself is Monday, actually — and I travelled down on Friday night, late. So Saturday and Sunday have just been quiet time, which has been good.
I hope your travels are smooth and the internment of your grandparents’ ashes offers another layer of healing. I have loved the first three Before the Coffee Gets Cold books, I hope you will, too. Beautiful food for thought on this particular journey of yours. Take good care!
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Thank you.
I found Before the Coffee Gets Cold enjoyable enough, though the style/translation doesn’t entirely work for me.
Wow, you did read a lot! I’m very curious about Strange Houses.
I liked it a lot — more than Strange Pictures, though I also enjoyed that.
British Library Crime Classics are really appealing, and your posts always remind me to look for more of them. I wonder if the subscriptions are available here.
I hope your trip turns out to have positive family-reunion vibes.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
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I thiiink they ship worldwide, but I’m not sure if that still holds with postage getting so expensive in the UK.
You did read a lot! I hope you have a good weekend.
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #185 Sunday Post #182 Sunday Salon #176
It hasn’t been awful, but it’s not exactly an occasion of joy, either, given the context.
You have had a busy time reading. I found Before The Coffee Gets Cold a very emotional read.
I hope that your trip to Wales goes as well as it can, sending love.
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/09/13/stacking-the-shelves-120/
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog recently posted…Stacking The Shelves
The style/translation didn’t really work for me, but I did like the exploration of how even the highly constrained time travel could give comfort.
Thank you.
You’ve been reading a lot, and I imagine you will enjoy more reading time since you are without internet. I’m trying to use the internet like I do sugar…as a seasoning, but not to sustain life.
I saw Strange Houses at a bookstore yesterday, and now I’m curious about it.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: Shall We Try to Be Happier?
I’ve been reading quite a lot! Less than I might’ve hoped, because somehow stuff keeps coming up/I’m not always in the mood, but it’s been nice to have the nudge to focus on reading.
I really liked Strange Houses. I liked Uketsu’s other book that’s been translated as well, but I preferred Strange Houses.
You really have such diverse reading. I hope your trip goes smoothly.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…India Black and the Gentleman Thief by Carol K Carr #CarolKCarr @berkleypub.bsky.social @sophiarose1816
Thank you. The trip down was long and didn’t quite go to plan, but we got here.
I hope you are finding comfort in being with family at this time.
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…It’s Monday! Where Are You Reading? #SundayPost #SundaySalon
Thank you.
I’m on the library waitlist for Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It’s a very long list, so who knows when I’ll get to read it.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…The Oldest Books On My TBR (Convince Me To Read Them)
I was surprised it was actually available at my library; I’d looked at the hold list before and it was massive!
I’m just seeing this right now, sorry I missed it when you first posted. I hope the interment went smoothly and you were able to share some good memories of your grandparents with family. I’m not personally interested in reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold but I am also curious about it and wondering how long I can resist the curiosity! I will stay strong! For now.
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Thank you. It went as well as these things can go, really!
I thought Before the Coffee Gets Cold was okay but… it’s not that amazing? At least not to me.
I have fallen so behind and visiting other blogs and commenting. This month has been affair, but it’s nice to start my regular routine again. I read my first magna book last year and really enjoyed it. I think I’m using the right term? I’m eager to read your review of Before the coffee gets cold. You certainly have gotten a lot of reading done! Happy reading to you.
Manga can be very fun! What did you read?