Hi folks,

I apologise that I haven’t been blogging as regularly. My health has not been great this year and I’ve been saving most of my energy for work.

I have been reading a lot though! I’ve surpassed my Goodreads goal (I’m currently sitting at 174 books for the year) which is pleasing. I need to check my other challenges to see how I’m going with them. I think I may go almost challenge free next year. I think I’m in a good enough rhythm now to be conscious of reading diversely without needing an overarching structure to remind me. It helps that I have so many fabulous online friends and follow some great instagram accounts that are always looking at diverse reads.

Anyway, here are some books I’ve really enjoyed so far this month.

I love Alice Oseman, and her graphic novel series Heartstopper is no exception. Volume 2 has recently been released and it’s totally adorable. This volume starts with the kiss between Nick and Charlie, and then follows with some angst, but it’s all good in the end! Looking forward to the next instalment.

I listened to the audio of The Terrible and I think I would be happy for Yrsa Daley Ward to read me anything. I love it when poets write prose – their language is beautiful and musical. Daley-Ward’s writing is no exception – this story of the difficulties of her childhood and growing up, The Terrible will captivate you.

Another audiobook, this one read by the author. The Mars Room follows Romy Hall, who is in prison with two life sentences. The book bounces back and forwards through time, following Romy’s career at the Mars Room to the event that landed her in prison, and her time in prison. This is no Orange is the New Black. This is a gritty story of poverty and women who have nothing stuck inside a system that doesn’t care about them. (All the trigger warnings for this one, including child rape, sexual assault, transphobia and misgendering).

The Far Field is the story of Shalini, who has lost her mother, who was a powerful figure in her life. After she is fired from her job, she can think of nothing else than finding the man who used to visit her and her mother (mostly unknown to her father). This book also jumps backwards and forwards in time, from Shalini’s childhood to her current journey to Kashmir. She learns some of the trouble that the Kashmiris have had to deal with but it turns out that she doesn’t understand as much as she thinks she does. This story is beautifully told with a gut punch of an ending.

Miracle Creek opens at a murder trial. Elizabeth is on trial for causing the explosion of the Miracle Submarine – a device used by mothers of disabled children to deliver pure oxygen for a set amount of time to assist with their varying conditions – causing the death of two people, including her own son, and injuries to others. Miracle Creek is a page turning whodunnit. What I really love about it though is Kim’s ability to capture good people on their bad days. Miracle Creek is essentially the story of a bunch of very human humans and it makes for engrossing reading.

How is your month going? What have you been reading? Have you read any of these?

Cheers!