This week has been a tough one for various reasons. It would have been my mum’s birthday this week so I always find that an emotional day. It’s a few years now since my mum died but that wave of grief still catches me unawares sometimes and it’s tough.
I also started some new treatment aimed at helping with my pain. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the treatment but it was certainly much harder than I thought it would be. I’m hopeful that it may help me manage my pain in the longer term though so will definitely be continuing with it. It was exhausting though – I was absolutely shattered for two days afterwards so spent a lot of time just resting and listening to audio books.
This week I’ve finished reading five books:
The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett
I had a review copy of this to read but I ended up listening to it on audio and really enjoyed it. I hope to get my review written and posted soon.
The Affair by Amanda Brooke
I enjoyed this book – it was different to what I was expecting and kept me hooked all the way through. Hopefully I’ll get my review up in the next week or so.
The Power by Naomi Alderman
This is another book I had a review copy of but I ended up switching to audio part way though. I enjoyed this book but I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed it as much if I was reading it rather than listening. I’ll write my review once I’ve got my thoughts in order.
I loved this book and can’t praise it highly enough. It was such an eye-opening and empowering read. I’ve already reviewed this for the blog tour so you can read my thoughts here if you’d like to.
This is such a brilliant and unique book and I loved it. Rhiannon is such a great character! I highly recommend this book. I’ve reviewed SweetPea this week so you can read that here if you want to know more.
This week I’ve blogged seven times:
Sunday: Weekly Wrap-Up (9 April)
Monday: Review of Deconstructing Dirty Dancing by Stephen Lee Naish
Wednesday: WWW Wednesday
Review of The Cows by Dawn O’Porter for the Blog Tour
Thursday: Review of SweetPea by C.J. Skuse
Friday: Review of Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
Saturday: Stacking the Shelves
This is what I’m currently reading:
Titanic Lives by Richard Davenport-Hines
I’ve just started listening to this on audio but am finding it interesting so far. At the moment it’s not been hugely focused on the Titanic but it has set the background scene to what happened really well.
The Comfort of Others by Kay Langdale
I received a copy of this in the post on Thursday and started reading it yesterday afternoon. It’s such a lovely novel and I’m very much enjoying it.
He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
I’ve not managed to read many print or ebooks this week with not feeling great so I’ve not picked this up for a couple of days but from the few chapters I read earlier in the week I am so keen to get back to this book to see what happens. It’s so good!
What I Talk about when I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami
This is my other current audio book and I’m really enjoying it. There is so much in this book about writing, and about how he came to be a runner and how the two things are linked for him. I’m getting so much out of this book and highly recommend it.
This Love by Dani Atkins
This is a gorgeous book that I’m absolutely loving. I had to put it down for a few days as I’ve been struggling to hold print books this week but I can’t wait to get back to it.
How to Survive a Plague by David France
This book is fascinating. It’s such a moving and powerful book about what happened during the Aids crisis in the 80s. It reminds me of Randy Schilts’ book And the Band Played On. I definitely recommend this book.
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: 1914
Additions:
Books bought/received for review/gifts: 12
Subtractions:
Books read this week: 5
Books I’m currently reading: 6
TBR Books culled this week: 2
Total:
TBR now stands at: 1929
I have a confession this week about the state of my TBR… the numbers won’t add up properly today because I discovered that I had a few audiobooks and a few books on my Kobo app from a while ago that I hadn’t ever added to my Goodreads and so hadn’t been counted in my TBR. These amounted to 16 books. Oops! So I have 1929 books on my TBR now and that is accurate it’s just that the sum won’t add up properly because of my error.
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 
Sounds like a tough week. I hope next week’s better for you. Looking forward to reading what you think about He Said/She Said!
Thank you, I appreciate that. I’m hoping to get back to reading He Said/She Said today and will definitely review it as soon as I finish it.
Always stands to you how much reviewing you do under tough circumstances and it’s one of the things that always made your blog one of the top out there. I’m sorry it’s such a tough week for you, hopefully next week is the polar opposite and gives you a break. Take care of yourself x On the reading front I must sit down and figure out the whole audiobook thing, I’m in the car so much that I need to work it out, I’m very backward , I don’t even know how to it them onto devices. I need to get reading up on it methinks! happy reading and hope Easter Sunday gives you chocolate to end the week on even a fractionally better note). Again I’m in awe of you, take care
Thank you so much, your words mean so much to me. My blog gives me a focus and helps keep me going, it makes me feel like I’m still achieving something so I like to try and keep posting even when I don’t feel great. I highly recommend audiobooks – it can take a little while for your brain to learn to follow a book you’re listening to but over time it becomes second nature. I use Audible for my books – you set up an account on the website and then download the app on your phone. If you need any help, please feel free to ask and I’ll do my best. Thanks again xx
Here’s to better week for you Hayley, stay strong – you’ve got that tbr to clear xx
Thanks so much, Jill. Haha – yes I need to get working on reading my TBR! 🙂
Sorry to hear you’ve had such a rough couple of days. I hope your new treatment is helpful. In the meantime, it sounds as though you had some good reads . I’ll be really interested in what you think of The People Next Door. I hear good things about it.
Thank you. I’m finding that audio books are helping me relax and escape a little when I’m feeling unwell so that’s the main way I’m reading at the moment. I hope to get my review for The People at Number 9 up in the next few days.
Sorry to hear it’s been another tough week, Hayley:(. Thank goodness for audio books! And I’m so impressed with your output – as ever, you produce enjoyable, detailed posts I always love reading. Have a good week-end and I hope the coming week is a lot easier! My Sunday Post – https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2017/04/16/sunday-post-16th-april-2017/
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words.
I don’t know what I’d do without audio books at the moment – it’s the main way I read on the bad days as it helps me escape without me needing to hold a book or kindle.
I’m also reading He Said/She Said and really loving it, look forward to your review xx
I’ve not been reading much over the last few days but I’m back reading He Said/She Said now and really hooked. I hope you’re enjoying it too. x
Ahh so many interesting books I have to check them out! Sorry it was a tough week for you, have a great one and happy Easter!
Thank you 🙂
The Comfort of Others looks good…and so does The Affair. I also want He Said/She Said. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, and have a great week.
I’m really enjoying The Comfort of Others, it’s so beautifully written and I recommend it. Thank you 🙂
Having had my first birthday without Dad in the last week or so I know EXACTLY what you mean. Just in from Easter lunch with the whole family without him – another first – and it is so hard. Sending you love x
Thank you, Linda. The first year is the hardest, I really do feel for you. The raw grief I felt on my mum’s birthday this year really caught me off-guard, I wasn’t expecting it to hit me like that. Sending you hugs and love too xx
Right back at you lovely lady x
So sorry about the tough week. I’ve also had a hectic one (again). We are not having the best times of our lives, are we 😦 I’m also really busy. I will have to teach (sub) a completely new class in about 10 days and I need to produce a presentation of at least 150 slides, test it and learn it… Only halfway done, plus I still need to work pretty much full time and teach another full-day class on Wednesday. And all that with migraines and something akin to chronic fatigue, alas, not diagnosed. Talk about not having enough spoons. Trying not to stress out over the fact that I don’t know how I’ll be able to do it all in time ;_;
Oh, you’ve posted a Sweetpea review! Let me help myself 😀 and Swimming Lessons! Well, I’ve pretty much got homework on your blog now.
How to survive a plague sounds really interesting. I hope I won’t miss your review!
Also, your TBR is surely, but slowly climbing into the 21st century. Wondering if you get the pun. Is it even a pun… 😀 we are sorry to impart this to you, but your TBR seems to have developed a consciousness and is crawling about now. Anyone would with as many cells in a body :DDD
Sorry, I am going mad with my crazy humor here. Anyway! Hope your medical side of life will get better next week. Don’t give up and keep blogging.
Thank you. It sounds like you’re having a really busy and hectic week preparing for your new class, whilst still teaching another class. I hope you manage to get it all done. I’m sorry that you suffer with migraines and think you may have chronic fatigue – that must be so hard especially when you don’t have the time to rest as much as you must need to. I get fatigue as a symptom of my condition so I can sympathise. I know the struggle of not enough spoons all too well.
Yes my SweetPea review is up, I hope you enjoy reading what I thought. I loved the book. Haha at you having homework on my blog!
I laughed when I read your comment about my TBR heading for the 21st century! It’s scary to think it’s that big though! Eeek!
Hope you get through this week okay and that you get some time to relax soon.
Yeah, fatigue… is a bitch. Pardon my language, but it truly is -.- oh well. What can we do, right? At least I’m freelance, so I don’t have to commute to an office. Got that going for me!
Also, spoons is SUCH a great theory.
Yeah, I’m starting to ponder a weekend getaway or something. I hope your week is going well too 🙂
You’re right, it is. I think the spoon theory is a great way to explain to others what it’s like to live with a chronic condition. It’s hard to explain otherwise how much it takes to just get showered and dressed before you’ve even started your day.
A weekend getaway sounds good – I hope you manage to do that soon. 🙂
Not sure that I have any of the ‘right’ words to offer currently. I think we both know that sometimes they are very hard to find. I just wanted to let you know you have been in my thoughts all week. I saw your facebook post and have been sending much love. Remember that the offer to chat goes both ways. Stay strong lovely!
Thanks so much, I know you know just how tough it can be at times so I really do appreciate what you said. I’m sorry I’ve been slow to reply, I’m struggling to keep up with blogging stuff at the moment. Sending you lots of love and hugs too xxx ps. Don’t forget I’m here if you want a chat. x
Same my friend! You can always email or message me. I am slow to respond to everything as well while recouping.
Thank you 🙂 xx
For not feeling great, you still manage to accomplish a lot! I’m going to be taking a look at Sweet Pea and also This Love. I hope you have a better week!
Thank you. I loved both of those books and definitely recommend them.
Sounds like a rough week Hayley. Hope some benefits of your new treatment kicks in and improves things for you.
Some good sounding book choices there. I really must read The Cows!
Caryl x
Thank you so much. The Cows was a really great read and one I definitely recommend. x
Such a tough week for you. Stay strong and look to fond memories:) Loving your books. I definitely have to check out that Sweet Pea one!
My Sunday Post
Thank you 🙂 Sweet Pea is brilliant, I highly recommend it.
Sending you lots of hugs for this emotional period. The pain and the hole left never disappear and dates are not always happy ones. I hope you found some relief in good memories ❤
Fingers crossed this new treatment helps! Just be gentle with yourself.
Your TBR number kills me every time, haha! xxxx
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your lovely words. I’m sorry I’ve been so slow to reply, I’m struggling to keep up with everything at the moment. Ha, I know – my TBR is so out of control it’s ridiculous! xxx
I don’t call it TBR anymore, I call it the Monster xD xxx
Hahahaha! xx
I don’t know what words to send for a week like this, I’m not sure there are any to cover it. Sending you lots of love and I hope that this pain therapy starts to help rather than hinder. 💖
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words. I’m feeling positive about the new treatment so hopefully it will help. How are you? xx
That’s really great news. I am good, very tired, I’ve been taking on more work at my volunteering role which has been a bit of a shock to the system! 😲
I hope you adjust to the volunteering soon so it becomes less tiring. I hope you’re enjoying it though. x
The anniversary of deaths is hard on me. I dread the day when I will lose my own mother. I can’t imagine what you feel. No matter how much time passes, I still find little pockets throughout the year that remind me and still bring tears to my eyes. *hugs* I hope this new treatment plan works out for you managing your pain! It sounds like it wasn’t too bad. With all new things come adjustment periods, so I hope this will help you! I hope you have a great week!
Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your kind words. It gets easier to cope with loss as the years go by but I’ve never stopped missing my mum, I still wish I could call round for a chat. I was lucky to have such an amazing mum though, and I cherish my memories.
Thank you, I’m feeling positive about the treatment so hopefully it will help. x
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Shhhh I’ve NEVER counted e-books on my TBR, and I have LOADS!
Pain is tiring in itself and learning ways to deal with it are tiring too, so I wish you well with that process. I went to a pain clinic a long time ago and learned a fab technique that helped with the chronic pain I had then. I hope this works for you.
Ha! I only started counting ebooks this year when I realised that I needed to get my whole TBR in some kind of order.
It’s a learning curve with the pain but I’m trying various things to try and get some control back. Thank you.