In happy news this week… I managed to have an hour out with my husband. The gorgeous weather coincided with his day off earlier this week so we went and sat in a lovely pub beer garden and had lunch outside. It was bliss to feel the sun on my skin and to just be outside for a little while. And it was wonderful to have time out with my husband and to just feel normal for a while. It’s been months since I’ve spent time outside and it made me so happy. This was our view 🙂
This week has been quite positive on the medical front but it means tough times ahead in the short term but will be worth it in the longer run. I’ve now managed to reduce my pain meds enough that I can switch to different meds, which will give me more control. In the short term this means my condition will be much worse due to sudden withdrawal and an increase in pain while my body adjusts. I’m trying to focus on the longer term when I will hopefully be better able to control my pain without feeling drugged up all the time. I’m only sharing this here as once the med change happens (it’s due to be in the next couple of days but it will depend on the NHS being back up and running) I will probably be around less for a little while. I may miss replying to comments here, or commenting and sharing your posts so please bear with me, I will be around as and when I can be.
I did have a productive couple of days at the start of last week and managed to write quite a few reviews and posts so I’ve got those scheduled. It means there will still be posts from me but I might not necessarily be around when the posts appear and links are tweeted.
This week I’ve finished reading four books:
The Zero by Jess Walter
This was my audio book for this week and I very much enjoyed listening to it. It’s a novel set around the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York but the main character is losing chunks of time and is increasingly confused so the story is told out of order. This book was so much more than I was expecting and I’m so glad that I stumbled upon it when sorting out my Kindle last week.
Fairytale Interrupted by RoseMarie Terenzio
This was an interesting book written by John F. Kennedy Jr.’s assistant. I enjoyed reading about the setting up of George magazine, and about John and Carolyn. I did find that Terenzio is a bit irritating at times but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book for the most part.
The Comfort of Others by Kay Langdale
This is a beautiful novel, one that I think I’ll be reading again in the future. I was sent this for review so I’m hoping to get my thoughts written up and posted very soon.
The Way Back Home by Freya North
I was such a fan of Freya North’s novels when she was first published but I haven’t read anything by her for a few years now. I’m not sure when I bought this book but I found it on my kindle last week and decided to read it right away. I really enjoyed it, it isn’t my favourite book by her but it was a good read. I especially loved that Cat and Django from an earlier novel featured in this novel, it was nice to see how they both were.
This week I’ve blogged seven times:
Sunday: Weekly Wrap-Up
Tuesday: Review of Little Deaths by Emma Flint
Wednesday: WWW Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Friday: Review of The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett
Saturday: Stacking the Shelves
This is what I’m currently reading:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I started reading this yesterday and am already engrossed. Eleanor Oliphant is a great character and it feels like she could be one of those characters that really stays with me after I finish the book.
The Light We Lost by Jill
I started reading this last night and it’s got me hooked. I’m intrigued by where the story is going and what happened between these two people.
The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis
This book is so gripping, it grabbed me on the first page and I begrudge having to put the book down when real life intervenes on my reading time.
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
This is another book that has been on my TBR for ages – I actually bought it when it was published but never got around to reading it. I’ve discovered the audio version is part of my subscription service so I’m part listening and part reading it. I’m really enjoying it and am intrigued to know where the story is going.
Fragile Lives by Stephen Westaby
This is an incredible memoir of a top heart surgeon and I’ve been fascinated by the various surgeries that he has been involved with, or has pioneered himself. I’d recommend this book to everyone.
How to Survive a Plague by David France
I’ve read another chapter of this book this week and am really engrossed in it now. It’s a similar book to And the Band Played on by Randy Schilts, and some of the same people do feature but a different perspective is given so it’s fascinating. I do find it utterly horrifying how various political elements stopped the cause of AIDS being known sooner.
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: 1934
Additions:
Books bought/received for review/gifts: 8
Subtractions:
Books read this week: 4
Books I’m currently reading: 6
TBR Books culled this week: 0
Total:
TBR now stands at: 1932
Woo hoo! My TBR has gone down by two, which I’m very happy with. 🙂
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 hope the adjustments to your meds provide a long term improvement for you.
Enjoy your books…I loved Missing, Presumed, and have ordered The Comfort of Others. I also downloaded The People at Number 9 after reading your great review.
Have a good week!
Thank you. I feel like it’s a positive step for the future once I get through the next stage so hopefully I’m right.
I’m really enjoyed Missing, Presumed – I wish I’d read it sooner now. I hope you love The Comfort of Others as much as I did. I’m pleased you got The People at Number 9 too.
Hope you have a great week too 🙂
I am so pleased to hear you had a small break in the sunshine Hayley. I expect it’ll be tough again for a while but sending you all the positive vibes I can over the ether. Good luck and keep strong x
Thanks so much 🙂 It was lovely to just do something normal for a little while, and to get to enjoy the gorgeous weather. I really appreciate all the positive vibes x
Lovely to hear you spent time in the sunshine this week, Hayley. Sending positive thoughts re the adjustments to your medication. Another great selection of books. I nearly always add a book or two to my to-read list when I visit your blog. 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I’m pleased you find books that you like the look of on my blog, I hope you enjoy the ones that you read 🙂
Great post! Lovely that you were able to enjoy the sunshine with your husband. Hope your new meds work really well for you long term. The Honeymoon and The Light We Lost both look good and I look forward to your thoughts on them.
Thank you so much 🙂 Both of the books are brilliant – I’m really enjoying them and would recommend.
Hope the transition isn’t too bad and is over sooner than you think. It’s been gorgeous weather, glad you got to enjoy some of it. Best of luck x
Thank you so much 🙂 It was lovely to enjoy some of the gorgeous weather, especially now it’s back to being rainy and dismal. x
So glad to hear you were able to enjoy the sunshine for a bit. I wish you the best of luck with the new medication and send you strong, positive vibes. I’ll be thinking of you! xx
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. xx
I completely empathise with the drop in blogging – I scheduled posts to come out while I was having my medical issues in the last week and a bit (on my book blog and my professional one) and the world didn’t end when I didn’t reply to comments as quickly as I usually do (I may have overwhelmed my readers with the number of review posts since all that, however!). Best of luck to you and see you at the other end of it. You’ve got this and your job is to get through each day until things lighten again (I know you know this, but it’s helped me).
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that – you’re absolutely right about focusing on getting through each day until things get easier again. I’ve got quite a few posts scheduled now, and I’ll just catch up with comments and reading other blogs as and when I can.
So glad to hear you had a chance to be outdoors and spend time with your husband. Those things make all the difference, don’t they? And it’s good to know that you’re making some medical progress, too, even if it’s awful in the short term. Take the time you need, and we’ll be glad to see you here when you can be.
Yes, it made such a difference to just be outside for a little while and to spend time with my husband. It was really lovely. Thank you so much 🙂
So glad to hear that you were able to get out for a bit and enjoy the sunshine, Hayley. Best of luck with the change in your meds and I hope the cyber-attack on the NHS doesn’t impede that going ahead – I hope the people who have inflicted such a wicked attack burn in Hell… In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope it all goes as smoothly as possible and look out for you as and when you can blog.
Thank you, it was so lovely to be outside for a little while. 🙂 I totally agree about the cyber-attack, it’s horrendous. I’m hoping to get my new meds in the next couple of days so hopefully it will be okay. I’ve got a few posts scheduled on my blog and then I’ll just catch up on sharing and comments as and when I can. Thanks so much 🙂
Wishing you the best as you change your meds. Eleanor Oliphant is on my wish list!
Thank you. Eleanor Oliphant is brilliant so far, I’m really enjoying it. I hope you can get a copy soon and that you’ll enjoy it as much as I am.
Your view to for your lunch looks lovely. I hope you get your meds sorted quickly and start to feel alot better. Have a good week.
Thank you so much 🙂
I haven’t been in your blog for like the entire week! Sorry about that, been so busy.
I also put on an audiobook today and went out purely for the sake of going out, cause the weather has just been so good! After the super cold spring we’ve been having it just makes me so happy. And I know what I’m saying. Last monday WE HAD SNOW. I am not kidding you!!
Aw, too bad you won’t be around much this week. I hope your switching to the meds project works out without too much hardship. Hang in there!
I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled next week, so I might be feeling off too. Here’s to hoping we both will be better soon 🙂
By the way, I have finished The Finding of Martha Lost (the one we talked about, if you remember). Unfortunately, it was such a let down! I have written a review, will be sharing sometime next week, I guess I will probably throw you a link so you don’t miss it. It was so disappointing though! Especially because you said you’ve read stuff by that author before and it was great. Oh well, bound to happen sometimes, right?
Oh wow 😀 your TBR actually went down! Super awesome, big congrats. I am worried about the state of mine because I got approved for pretty much all the ones I had requested xD
Anyway. Hang in there, have a good (or at leastb bearable!) week and be back soon. You’ll be missed 🙂
Don’t apologise, I know how busy life can be and it’s nice to hear from you as and when 🙂
I hope all goes well with your wisdom teeth being pulled this week. I had mine out a few years ago so I know what it’s like.
That’s such a shame about The Finding of Martha Lost. Definitely leave me a link to your review when it’s up so I don’t miss it. You’re right that we can’t all love everything, it’s just one of those things.
I’m so pleased my TBR went down this week! I’m now trying to be good this week but it’s hard! Haha at you getting approved for al you requested – that happened to me a couple of weeks ago. It’s great to get all the books you want but it’s tough when you get approved for all at the same time.
Thank you, I still have posts scheduled on here but I might not get to reply to all my comments or to stop by your blog for a little while. I’ll be around as and when I can though 🙂 x
I’m glad to hear you were able to get out of the house and enjoy the day with your husband. I hope you med adjustment goes smoothly, and won’t leave you in too much pain.
Thank you, it was really lovely to be outside for a while. And thanks for your wishes for the coming week with my med changes, I appreciate it. 🙂
I am so happy you got some respite and enjoyed a lovely day with your hubby! Those moments have a sweeter taste when you are not able to do so as much as you’d like to. I also want to remind you I am so proud of you and I admire your strength, I’m sending all my love for the good and the bad days, and lots of hugs to keep you company. I hope the pain stays manageable and I’m crossing fingers and toes it helps you in the long term.
The numbers of your TBR still scare me hahaha! xxxx
They really do – I’ve come to appreciate so much more since I’ve been so disabled. Thanks so much, I really do appreciate it. I’m dreading the next few weeks but hopefully it’ll be worth it.
My TBR number scares me… and yet I still can’t seem to get the numbers down! Hahaha! xxx
Wow that TBR number! I love the idea of adding them up and subtracting – it must feel great when the number goes down 🙂
I know, it’s scary how big my TBR is – my plan was to read my own books this year and get my TBR down but so far it’s gone up more than it’s gone down. It’s a nice feeling when I manage to reduce it like this week though 🙂
Glad you managed to get outside and enjoy the weather, bad timing on the NHS front, but hope when your meds are changed it will be a positive outcome. Take care and stay strong, we’re all here when you want to drop by. xx
Thank you, it was so nice to get out for a little while. My med change is going to be delayed but hopefully it’ll still be this week. Thanks so much 🙂 xx
I think of you often. Especially on those days that feel harder than most. I draw strength from knowing all that you accomplish. I am so happy right now to know that you have experienced some positive. Always cheering for you and sending love ❤
Thank you so much, that really means a lot to me. I try to focus on the positive things, it gives me the strength to get through the tougher days. Sending hugs and love to you too xx
I’m so glad that you got out this week and on a nice sunny day. 🌞 I have everything crossed for this new treatment I do hope that it all goes ahead as planned and you respond well to it. I will be thinking of you. 😙
Thank you 🙂 My medication change has been put back for a few days due to the NHS cyber attack holding everything up. I’m hoping it’ll be in the next few days though. How are you? x
I’m OK, Im having some non-mental health problems this week but it’s something that won’t be fixed until I can have surgery which was supposed to be in Feb so we are doing well! I’m currently not getting any answers about the surgery which I’m being told is down to the cyber attack but as they were avoiding my calls before it I say it’s a convenient excuse! I hope your med change goes well once they do go ahead. It’s all so hard adjusting to everything!
I’m sorry that you’re being messed around re. your surgery. It does feel like a lot is being blamed on the cyber attack but when it’s stuff that should have been sorted before that it seems like such an excuse. I hope you get a date soon. I’m dreading the med change but hopefully I’ve made the right decision in doing it. x
I actually got my date this morning and only a couple of weeks to wait which is brilliant. My pain meds were increased today aswell so it couldn’t have come at a better time. You can always keep in mind if you don’t get on with the new meds there will be other options including to go back, it’s not ideal but you don’t have to make do. Hopefully that won’t be the case though.
That’s great that you got a date so quickly, and that your pain meds have been increased so all good timing. I hope it all goes well for you. You’re right, I have some options but I really don’t want to go backwards so am hoping this new med works out okay for me. x
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