This week has been okay. I’ve been unwell for a few days so had to rest up and I got a lot of reading done. I managed to finish a couple of books that I’ve been reading for a little while so that was nice.
Yesterday was really upsetting when I found out that because someone has reported me to Facebook for not using my surname on there. Facebook are holding me to ransom saying that unless I give them two documents with my real name on (which they’d then use on my account) they’ll delete not only my account but also my Facebook page. I have good reason for not using my surname online so refuse to give it to Facebook. This means I’ll no longer be able to have a presence on Facebook unless I can find a way around this. Being housebound social media is really important to me so I’m really sad that someone has caused this to happen to me. My husband is looking into if we can appeal to Facebook but unless I can figure something out then I’ll no longer be on there once they delete my account and page. So if you follow me on there and see my page disappear this is why.
Anyway, on to the books…
This week I’ve finished reading seven books:
Where Love Begins by Judith Hermann
I have to admit that whilst this is a short novel I did struggle with it a bit. It’s one of those books that I really enjoyed when I was reading it but when I put it down I just wasn’t drawn to pick it back up. Yesterday evening I made the time to just read it through to the end and it was more enjoyable that way but it still left me feeling a bit indifferent to it. The idea for the novel was great so it may just be a case of right book wrong time for me.
Sofa So Good: Me Life Story by Scarlett Moffatt
I was sent a copy of this for review and it was the perfect read for me this week. I read it in one sitting and I enjoyed it so much. I’ll be reviewing this one very soon!
In A Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green
This is a book I got from NetGalley recently so picked it up this week and I devoured it. I was expecting it to be a bit more unnerving than it was but it had me hooked all the way through and it was good escapism.
Trust Me by Zosia Wand
I very much enjoyed this book, it’s another one that I read in one sitting as I just didn’t want to put it down. It made for a late night but it was worth it! I’ve already reviewed this one so you can read more of what I thought here if you’d like to.
All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker
I’m ashamed to say that I was sent a copy of this book for review quite a while ago not but I just haven’t been able to manage holding a physical book over the summer so it’s had to wait. It was worth the wait though because this was such a brilliant read. I’m still trying to get my thoughts together but I will review it soon – in the meantime I definitely recommend it!
Titanic Love Stories by Gill Paul
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages so as I’m trying to mix reading review books with reading books that I’ve owned since before the start of the year I decided to pick this one up. It was an enjoyable and moving read but I just wish it had had a bit more depth. It’s worth picking up if you’re interested in books about the Titanic though.
Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister
This book is so good! I love Sliding Doors type books anyway but this one is done so well and I’m still thinking about it now. I hope to get my review written and posted soon but I can say now that I highly recommend this book!
This week I’ve blogged four times:
Sunday: Life Update and Weekly Wrap-Up
Wednesday: WWW Wednesday post
Thursday: Extract from Bad Sister by Sam Carrington for the blog tour
Friday: Review of Trust Me by Zosia Wand for the blog tour
This is what I’m currently reading:
Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M.C. Beaton
I haven’t read an Agatha Raisin book for ages but I picked this one off my TBR last night as it seemed it would be perfect escapism when I was feeling so down last night. It was the right choice because I’m loving this book.
All the Good Things by Clare Fisher
I’ve had an ARC of this on my kindle for a few months now so decided it was time to pick it up. I’m really enjoying this – it’s hooked me in very quickly and I’m keen to get back to it to see where this novel is going.
This House of Grief by Helen Garner
I’ve only read a couple more chapters of this since last week as I just wasn’t in the right mood to read it but I do want to get back to it soon.
Good Night and Good Riddance: How Thirty-Five Years of John Peel Helped to Shape Modern Life by David Cavanagh
I’m still dipping in and out of this book and I love it. There are some wonderful stories from John Peel’s radio shows and I feel like I can almost hear his voice as I’m reading.
Aches and Gains: A Comprehensive Guide to Overcoming Your Pain by Paul L. Christo
I’m also still reading this book on and off – it’s not a book I can read straight through as I want to take in what he’s saying. This is a great book for anyone who suffers from chronic pain, or cares for someone who does.
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 
Why would somebody do that? It’s just nasty. Hope you manage to sort it out x
Thank you, I appreciate that. x
I really hope this gets sorted Hayely as I know how important it is to you x
Thank you. I’m still not sure what to do – it’s difficult because social media is the only real contact I have with other people so don’t really want to let it go. x
I can understand the anti-criminal need to have real details – can you make it a ‘business’ page and therefore not have your name published?
Hope everything with FB goes well!
I´m in a bit of an reading slump right now which is a bit annoying actually since I´ve just bought 8 new books haha 😛
Thank you. 🙂
It’s so annoying when you hit a reading slump around the time you get new books and then just can’t get into any of them. Hope your reading mojo returns soon and that you enjoy all your new books. 🙂
Thanks I will need it! 😛
Really hope you can sort your Facebook situation, sounds like a real nightmare! I’ve got a copy of Anything You Do Say and I’m waiting for the perfect moment to start it because I know it’s going to be good!
Thank you. I could have done without the FB hassle at the moment but hopefully I’ll be able to get it sorted out.
Anything You Do Say is brilliant – I recommend waiting until you’ve got a few hours free to start reading because you won’t want to put it down. I still keep thinking about it.
Sorry to hear about your FB situation, Hayley. Social media is really important these days to a lot of us, and it’s hard not to have access to it. And I don’t see, anyway, why someone would feel the need to stir up trouble for you that way.
I’m glad you’ve had a good reading week, though. I want to read the Garner very much (just haven’t got to it yet), so it’s good to hear I’ve got something good awaiting!
Thank you. It’s been upsetting but now I’m just trying to sort it out. Facebook make it so difficult – they say they want photo ID from but I don’t have photo ID so just waiting to see if I can use anything else. It’s all so silly when it’s just a social media platform.
The Garner is really good, it’s a hard read at times but it’s well written and very interesting.
Sorry to hear about the FB thing. I had a message from them saying they were banning and deleting one of my posts for being spam! It was a totally normal, standard WordPress auto-share with my marathon race report on it. I clicked on all the things, etc. but it’s never reappeared. They seem to apply their rules very much too widely and harshly, don’t they. I hope you can get it sorted out.
My reading slowed a bit this week but I’ve been very much enjoying some NetGally Georgette Heyer short stories.
Thank you. It’s hassle I could do without at the moment but I want to try and sort it out as I’ll be very isolated without FB with being housebound. That must be so frustrating what’s happened with your posts. It annoys me when you see or hear about the awful things some people share and yet it’s people who are just writing about harmless things that seem to fall foul of the rules.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the short stories you got on NetGalley. I need to read and review some of more of my NetGalley TBR in the coming weeks as I’d like to get my percentage back above 80% before the end of the year if I can.
I’m on 77% again and I bet the short stories make that 79%!! They’re so good, though. I’ve got a couple of themed weeks coming up plus my own new challenge to set up, so I bet you beat me back up to 80%!
Grr, FB is so stooopid sometimes! Just wanted to to share that I read In A Cottage In A Wood this week and thoroughly enjoyed it, quite sinister at times 😬 certainly had me hooked 😃
It is, isn’t it?
I’m pleased you enjoyed In a Cottage in a Wood this week. I loved it too. I didn’t find it as creepy as I thought I would but it had me engrossed all the way through.
That is so weird! I know many people who do not use their “real names,” so I would recommend making up an online name, with a first and surname. That’s what I do. I use my pseudonym, under which I write my novels.
You could create a whole new page with that name. I have never heard of them requesting documentation, though. That is bizarre!
Good luck…and thanks for sharing. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
That’s a bullshit thing about Facebook. However, Facebook will not publicize your real name – I’ve witnessed this happen many times to people I work with, because I work with Facebook advertising. It usually goes through well, FB just validates you and lets you go. They will not publish your name online. I think you should just send them your info. That way they are trying to make sure you are not a spammer. It’s because you have a page. Sorry it happened though, that is stupid and it shouldn’t happen to people…
Sorry to hear about the FB issues. Honestly, I left FB years ago because it just became to annoying both on the FB side and some of my “friends” side. Now I’m a big fan of Instagram. I hope you enjoy your reading this week!
The Facebook situation sounds bizarre. I hope you can iron it out. Why are they asking for documents?? If you were running a dodgy business or stirring up political/racist unrest I could see why they’d be on your case – but you are evidently a lovely person who uses social media to communicate your love of books! Grrr…
I really hope you manage to prevail, Hayley and in the meantime, the books you’ve read look interesting – I’ve heard some good things about All the Wicked Girls. Take carex
I’m shocked than anyone could be so nasty, Hayley. You are one of the kindest, gentlest bloggers on the circuit. Only the worst king of troll would do such a thing. I’d be inclined to listen to Evelina (above) though as I think she’s made a valid point in that it’s FB simply validating your account. That said, I get why personal reasons might make you reluctant.
Sending much love, cariad. xXx
So sorry to hear about your FB problems, how ridiculous when you have clear reasons for not wanting to use your surname and as you said, you really rely on social media! Idiots! Sometimes people don’t take into account personal circumstances and it’s all about “the rules.” How pathetic! Looks like you have some lovely books to see you through. I really feel like I connect with your story, I’m unable to go out myself at the moment with my own chronic illness and other health problems and am recovering after an operation on Monday so I know what a lifesaver social media can be sometimes! Take care of yourself Hun 😘
Thank you so much (and sorry for taking so long to reply), I really appreciate the support. I hope you’re recovering well from your surgery last week, and that you have some good books to lose yourself in. Social media is a great thing for the most part but it’s not nice when people decide to make life difficult on there. Ah well, I shall focus on the lovely people 🙂 Take care x
That is some kind of petty shit to report someone to FB. As long as you are not posing as someone else. There are all manner of reasons anyone may not use their full name. I’ve had three stalkers in the last 10 years. I teach and want my private life to remain private. I don’t want my students or their parents finding me, either. I hope they will accept your reasons and not be jackholes about it. Bad karma to the asshat who reported it.
Thank you. It really made me angry but I’ve calmed down now, it was nice to have so much support on here about it. I’m sorry that you’ve had similar reasons to me for needing to protect your privacy online. It’s a shame that other people can’t grasp that we don’t all feel safe being visible online but it’s not because we’re hiding anything or doing anything wrong. People, eh?!
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