May has been another quiet month for me. My pain medication change is ongoing at the moment and will be affecting me on and off for the next few weeks. I’m really pleased that it’s happening, even though it’s really hard.
I’ve managed to have a post up on my blog most days in May. I’ve been much more organised in writing posts on my better days and getting them scheduled on here, and for links to be posted on twitter and Facebook so that my blog is still running when I’m not around as much.
On Tuesday I was thrilled to get a notification telling me that my blog had had it’s most ever views in one day. I’m not obsessive about my blog stats but it’s always lovely when these notifications come through that show my blog is still interesting to people and is still growing.
Here are the 24 books I read this month:
My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young
Dead Woman Walking by Sharon Bolton
The Elephant in the Room by Jon Ronson
The Heroes Welcome by Louisa Young
The Way Back Home by Freya North
The Comfort of Others by Kay Langdale
Fairytale Interrupted by RoseMarie Terenzio
The Zero by Jess Walter
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
Fragile Lives by Stephen Westaby
Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff
Becky by Darren Galsworthy
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor by Jason Gurley
Letting Go by Alex Hanscombe
Wishbones by Virginia MacGregor
I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke
How We Met by Katy Regan
After Anna by Alex Lake
How to Survive a Plague by David France
May Blog Posts & Reviews:
May has been a good month on my blog. I’ve been much better at writing posts in advance and scheduling them. I’ve not been around as much due to not being well but I like that my blog still has regular posts, it gives me some sense of achievement. I managed to review eleven books this month, which I’m really pleased about. My aim was to post at least three reviews a week to try and catch up on my reviewing back log (I’m reading faster than I’ve been reviewing) so I’m glad to be on target. I still have some reviews to catch up on but I am closer to being caught up now.
Here are my reviews from May:
Block 46 by Johana Gustawsson (Blog Tour)
The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
Making Space by Sarah Tierney (Blog Tour)
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Here are my blog posts from May:
I wrote my regular posts each week, which are my WWW Wednesday posts, my Stacking the Shelves posts, and my Weekly Wrap-Up posts. Then I also wrote and shared the following posts:
April Wrap-Up post where I shared all my reviews, blog posts, the state of my TBR and my news from April.
My 20 Books of Summer TBR post where I finally made my mind up which of my own books I would like to challenge myself to read between June and September.
The state of my TBR:
When it comes to the state of my TBR the honest truth is that it is in actual fact in a state! I started the year owning 1885 unread books and now have 1954 unread books. I am finding it interesting to track my book buying and reading on a spreadsheet though and it is helping me to focus a bit more than I used to on whether I should buy a book or not.
I’ve now read 114 books this year so far, and 49 of those were books that I owned before 31 December 2016 so I’m really happy with how my Mount TBR challenge on Goodreads is going (I challenged myself to read 100 books from my TBR this year). So, I’m really pleased with the balance between reading new books (20), older TBR books (49) and review books (45).
I’m listening to more audio books than I’ve done in a long time and I’m really enjoying that. I often read a bit and then listen to a bit and then go back to the book, and it works for me that way. My disability is such that I wouldn’t be reading half as much as I am if I could only read print or kindle books so I’m very grateful that audio books are so widely available now.
All-in-all it’s been a good month of reading. I’ve had to take it easy a lot more during May but I feel like I’ve been really productive with my blog, and I’ve read some amazing books. 🙂
How was your May? I hope you all had a good month and that you read good books. Did you read many books? What was your favourite book of the month? Please tell me in the comments, I’d love to know. Also, if you have a blog please feel free to leave a link to your month’s wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to read and comment back. 🙂
RatherTooFondofBooks 
So pleased you’ve had some positivity too amongst the medication battle. And congratulations on those stats!
May just disappeared trying to do so many things all at once and feeling like I achieved nothing but I do love your blog. Have just started my blog and want to concentrate on making it a special place for new indie authors like me who are struggling along in a cosmos of uncertainty. So in awe of how you have such a successful blog so quickly and creating something so inviting to read and be a part of especially when your battling with your health all the time. Your positivity and writing is incredible.
Looks like a really good month and exciting getting those stats! ☺
Oh, man, I read 22.3 books in May, which is something of a record since the days when I had a Long-Distance Relationship and a 1 hour 20 commute to and from work every day, and lived on my own and didn’t have many friends. But I was laid up. I have bought a few but the Pile of books has practically disappeared, so I’m doing well! I will be posting a State of the TBR later today so watch out for that. Hope the meds change is going as well as it can do, and happy reading for June!
If you hadn’t bought any books you would have put one hell of a dent in it this year so that’s something to be pretty proud about I think!
Your number of unread books makes me feel better about mine…
Wow 24 books, you go girl! Some really great books on your list this month too 🙂
This sounds like a GREAT reading month! If I ever read more than 20 books in one month I think I will throw myself a party! 😀 (reading party of course, to read more books!)
You’ve read such a variety of great books! And I’m very happy for you about your stats. You’re right about not obsessing, but it’s still a great feeling, isn’t it? Well done
Wow, impressive month! I read 16, which was my highest number since January. My favorite this month was Karen White’s The Night the Lights Went Out.
I loved Missing, Presumed and Little Deaths, and have some books on my shelf from your picks this month: The Comfort of Others, Fairy Tale Interrupted, Making Space (coming in the mail), and The People at No. 9.
The Honeymoon is now on my list. Enjoy June!
Oh, The Zero! I must know how you felt about that.
I’m really happy that you are trying this new phase of treatment and I hope it helps *fingers crossed* You’ve managed a lot with your blog, you can be proud of yourself! I’m still very happy you liked Block 46 and I spot books I added to my wishlist because of your reviews 😀
I hope June treats you well my dear friend ❤
You are staying so positive! I motivates me to do the same. I am glad you are progressing with med changes. Sending so much love and strength you way ❤
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That is a serious number of books in one month – and when coping with major changes in your medication too. I think May was a very successful month for you:)). As ever, I always love visiting your blog with your excellent reviews and wide reading tastes – looking forward to reading about your June choices, Hayley!