This week I’ve not done much as I’m physically struggling with the adjustments to my pain medication. I’ve been in need of distraction so have been trying to get some long-overdue reviews posted on my blog, and also have been reading and listening to books.
This week I’ve finished reading five books:
Portrait of Bowie by Brian Hiatt
This is a lovely book and I really enjoyed reading all the stories from various people who knew David Bowie. The photos are great too. I’d recommend this to David Bowie fans.
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
I just finished reading this yesterday and found it such a moving novel. I’ve already written my review so that’ll be up on my blog tomorrow if you’d like to read it.
Now We Are 40 by Tiffanie Darke
I really enjoyed reading this book – it really does bring back so many memories from the 90s. Some great memories and some not so good but it is a journey on how we, as a society, got from there to here. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who is around the age of 40.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
I listened to the audio of this book and very much enjoyed it. The narrater was great and I found the book easy to listen to. It’s a novel that really gives you a lot to think about though – every time I stopped the book I found I was thinking about all of the issues and ideas that I’d just been reading about. I can see why this book won the Man Booker last year, and I would absolutely recommend reading it if you haven’t already.
Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski
This book is so refreshing to read because it’s such a modern concept – a novel told in a series of podcasts! I enjoyed it and will be looking out to see what the author writes next.
This week I’ve blogged six times:
Sunday: Weekly Wrap-Up
Monday: Review of Year of No Clutter by Eve O. Schaub
Tuesday: Review of The Cutaway by Christina Kovac
Wednesday: WWW Wednesdays
Friday: Review of The Breakdown by B.A. Paris
Saturday: Stacking the Shelves
This is what I’m currently reading:
The Power by Naomi Alderman
This is my current audio book and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve had the book on my TBR since the end of last year and now I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner because it’s so good. It’s an interesting premise for a novel and has a very strong message throughout.
Sweet Pea by C.J. Skuse
This is such a good read – if it wasn’t such a big paperback I’m sure I’d have read it in one or two sittings but I’m just physically struggling to hold it at the moment. I do keep thinking about it when I’m not reading and when I do manage to read some of it, it feels like a treat. The black humour running through this novel is brilliant.
One of Us by Asne Seierstad
I’ve managed to read a few more chapters of this week and am hoping to be able to finish it this week. It’s such a fascinating and horrifying book, the only reason I’ve not read it sooner is because I’ve not had the concentration for heavier non-fiction in recent weeks. I’d absolutely recommend this though.
Update on my TBR…
TBR at the start of January 2017: 1885 (see my State of the TBR post)
TBR in last week’s Wrap-Up: 1882
Additions:
Books bought/received for review/gifts: 15
Subtractions:
Books read this week: 5
Books I’m currently reading: 3
TBR Books culled this week: 0
Total:
TBR now stands at: 1895
I’m linking this post up to Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer’s Sunday Blog Share. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
How has your week been? What have you been reading? Please share in the comments below. If you write a wrap-up on your blog please feel free to share the link. 🙂
RatherTooFondofBooks 
I can’t wait to see your review of Goodbye Days!
And I really love your section about your TBR!!
I’ve got my review scheduled for tomorrow so not long to wait. Thank you – I hoped writing about my TBR each week would help me reduce it but I don’t have much willpower when it comes to books.
lol I don’t have any willpower either! I’m constantly adding books to my TBR. Much faster than I’m reading them. Lol
Me too – I definitely buy books faster than I can read them. Haha!
I think all bookworms are that way though. lol
I’m curious about that huge number on your Goodreads TBR…are those books you just want to own, or do you actually have that many in your possession?
My TBR on Goodreads consists only of books I wish to buy.
Enjoy your reading…and thanks for sharing.
I only ever add books to my Goodreads TBR if I own them so it’s all books that I have in my possession. Any place that you see my TBR it’s always owned books. My wish list is on Amazon and it’s huge but I never count a book as TBR until I own a copy.
Well done for getting so much achieved despite having a difficult week. Proof positive (if we needed it) that books are a great source of comfort, motivation and insight. Hope next week is another positive one.
Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without books, they definitely get me through the bad days.
Sorry to hear it’s not been a good week. Here’s to a pain free one next week x
Thank you. xx
I’m sorry to hear you’ve more difficulty with your pain this week, and I really do hope you get your pain medication adjusted properly so you get some ease. You have had a great reading week, though, which is good to hear. I really hear some good things about Sweet Pea, so I’m looking forward to your thoughts on that.
Thank you. Sweet Pea is really good – it’s such dark humour but it works so well.
So many interesting book.I’m really curious about Sweet Pea.I’ve been looking for it since you mentioned it.
Feel better soon.I hope this will be a better week for you Hayley.
Thank you 🙂 Sweet Pea is really good so far, I’d recommend it.
Hope you are feeling better. I may take a look at A Portrait of Bowie. I was a “mainstream” Bowie fan when I was growing up, hearing him on the radio and singing along, but not going further. As the years passed, whenever I listened to him, I realized how talented and creative he was. He certainly led an interesting life too. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. I think you’d enjoy this book – it’s easy to dip in and out of and nice to know more about him from people who worked with him at various points in his career.
Six times is a lot 🙂 meanwhile, I counted my e-TBR (Kindle books I mean). So now I know 😀 I’ve also written up some drafts for next week which is great. Some backlogged reviews out of the way 🙂 my bookish OCD is appeased!
P.S. I got denied for Sweet Pea and that’s a shame, but oh well. Definitely sounds pretty sweet!
Eeeek! Was it more than you thought? I was shocked when I worked out how many books I owned that I hadn’t read yet. That’s what led to me putting my TBR maths in my weekly post – I’m trying to find a way to keep my TBR in check.
That’s a shame you got denied for Sweet Pea. Hopefully you’ll be able to get a copy when it comes out.
During this brief time I wrote that comment and didn’t visit your blog… I realized I had counted wrong xD yeah, it’s… more than I thought. It’s slightly over 500 :0 I think I’m a… book shopaholic (and proud). You should have seen my BF’s face 😀
His very disapproving face. LOL
I’m going to put my TBR maths into my monthly book haul posts too now, I think 🙂 I just needed a number xD but actually, I also made an exclusive shelf on GR (exclusive is like “currently reading” or “to-read”, so it can only be on that one shelf). That way even if I forget to track my numbers, if I just put it on the right shelf, I’ll always know. Pretty cool feature of GR there (that I found out about last week, lol)
Haha! 500 is a lot – I can imagine your bf’s face! My husband doesn’t enjoy reading but he collects records so he understands why I like having lots of books. We are now competing for shelf space though! lol
I made an exclusive shelf on GR recently too – it really makes it easier to track your TBR as long as you make sure to add all the books you get. My plan to reduce my TBR isn’t working at the moment but I’ll keep trying! lol Good luck tracking your TBR 🙂
Well, you are reading at bigger speeds than me, so I think you’ve got quite a good chance to make it work 😀
Sorry to hear those med changes are hammering you. Some interesting reads in again this week though. I hope you feel a bit better next week.
Thank you. I’m on a reduction program for my pain meds as I don’t like the way they make me feel. It’s got to be done slowly though and I’ve reached a point where the withdrawal is hell, and my pain is out of control some days. Just got to get through it though as I can’t be prescribed other meds until I’m off these ones. I’m starting a new treatment this week though so I’m really hoping it helps. Hope you’re doing ok at the moment. x
Good luck, pain meds are a real pain in themselves! I hope the new ones are better.
Thank you x
I’ve heard fantastic things about Sweetpea… look forward to your review!
It’s really good, I definitely recommend it. 🙂
I really hope the med adjustments are going well and you are feeling ok. Adjustments can be a real challenge. Necessary, but none the less difficult at times. I am looking forward to starting Six Stories. I see nothing but raving reviews. I might have to add A Portrait of Bowie 😉 Hope you are rested and well ❤
Thank you. It’s really tough but, as you say, necessary at times. I chose to reduce these meds and my doctor is really supportive but it’s hard. Just got to keep going though. Six Stories was really good, I hope enjoy it as much as I did. A Portrait of Bowie was a lovely read, I’d recommend it. x
Thank you Hayley! Med reduction can be a nightmare. I will be keeping you in my thoughts ❤
Thank you so much xx
I hope the meds adjustments don’t take too long ❤ It is an exhausting process.
I'm really happy you liked Six Stories 😀 The concept is original and it's indeed original, a nice break from the usual stories!
Thank you. It’s probably going to be a few months of adjusting my meds but it’ll hopefully be worth it in the end. xx
*looks at your TBR number* I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but wow, your number is a relief, haha. It’s even higher than mine!
Med adjustments are such a (ha) pain — I hate the fact that changing meds in any way tends to bring back the side effects, even a small tweak.
Haha! I’m meant to be trying to reduce my TBR this year but I’m not doing very well so far – I can’t resist books! I’m glad it makes you feel better about your own TBR 🙂
Med changes are definitely a pain, I’m really struggling with mine at the moment but hopefully it’ll all be worth it.
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