WWW Wednesdays (22 Jul 20)! What are you reading?

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WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It’s open for anyone to join in and is a great way to share what you’ve been reading!

Current Reads

The Mothers by Sarah J. Naughton

This novel follows a police detective Iona as she starts investigating the disappearance of a married man. I’m only a couple of chapters into this one but we’ve met the group of mothers, one of whom is married to the missing man. There seems to be a class divide in the mothers’ group, and they almost seem like frenemies at the moment. I’m keen to find out what’s going on and also to see how the prologue, where someone seems to be about to smother a baby, fits into the whole story. This is definitely intriguing and I want to know more!

How To Disappear by Gillian McAllister

This is about a family who are split apart when two of them have to go into witness protection. Lauren and her daughter Zara are trying to figure out their new lives and who they have to be now. Lauren’s husband Aidan is trying to figure out how he can help them be safe. This novel is so tense, every time anyone does anything that might potentially put them at risk I find myself holding my breath. It’s really good and I can’t wait to find out what happens and if everyone will be okay!

Small Island by Andrea Levy

I read this book many years ago and remember enjoying it. I’ve heard people talking about it again recently and decided to buy the audio book so I could listen to it. Andrea Levy narrates the book and it’s excellent hearing her voice her own characters. I’m very much enjoying this one and recommend the audio book.

Recent Reads

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

I’ve had this book on my TBR for three years but I finally picked it up this week and I read it in one sitting. It’s one of the most powerful and eye-opening book on race that I’ve read to date. There is a lot of focus on Serena Williams, as well as the micro-aggressions that are so appalling and shocking. It’s a brilliant book and I recommend it to everyone.

Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall

I listened to the audio book of this from NetGalley and I really enjoyed it. It follows three women in their 40s: Eleanor, Nancy and Mary. The novel opens with Eleanor learning that Nancy has been murdered. It then is told in three parts: first Eleanor in the present, then Nancy in the past leading up to her murder, and finally it concludes with Mary. I loved the exploration of female friendship and all the complexities that come with being a group of three. I’ve already reviewed this one so you can find my thoughts here.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

This is another audio book that I listened to on the NetGalley app. I really enjoyed this one too. It follows Leena who is given two months off work and she ends up swapping homes with her beloved Grandma Eileen. The novel alternates between them and I really loved getting to know their back story and seeing what was going to happen to them in their new lives. It’s a really heartwarming book and lovely escapism. I’ll be reviewing this soon but in the meantime I recommend it!

I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin

I recently watched the documentary film of the same name and found it such an emotional and interesting watch so decided to read the book soon afterwards. Raoul Peck sought permission from the Baldwin estate to look at the 30 pages of notes James Baldwin had made on a book he intended to write called Remember This House about the murders of Medgar Evans, Malcom X and Martin Luther King. He then took these notes and fleshed them out to make the documentary and accompanying book I Am Not Your Negro. It’s really well done and I’m so glad I read this one. I recommend it.

Summerwater by Sarah Moss

I couldn’t resist reading this one very soon after I was approved to read it from NetGalley as I love Sarah Moss’ writing. Summerwater is set all in one day on a Scottish cabin park. It follows twelve characters, and each has their own chapter so you really get to know them. You can sense that it’s all building towards something and this makes this slow-burn character novel impossible to put down. I read it all in one sitting and I highly recommend it.

Mine by Clare Empson

I loved Clare Empson’s previous novel Him so was really keen to read her new one and I loved it. It follows Luke in the present day as he meets his birth mother Alice for the first time and gets to know her. Then in alternating chapters it follows Alice back in the 70s as she falls in love for the first time with the lead singer of a band. This is an emotional and absorbing read and I adored it. I’ve reviewed it here.

Innocent or Guilty by A. M. Taylor

This is the oldest book on my NetGalley shelf so in my attempt to catch up I wanted to read it and I’m so pleased I finally go to it as it was a good read. It follows Olivia as she gets involved with a true crime podcast in an attempt to clear her twin brother Ethan. He’s in prison for the murder of Tyler Washington a decade earlier when they were all 18. I loved the podcast element of this novel and the short transcripts that feature throughout the novel. I did predict some of it but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I’ve already reviewed this book here.

Come Again by Robert Webb

This is another audiobook that I got from NetGalley and I enjoyed it. It follows Kate who is grieving after the sudden death of her husband Luke. It’s told in three parts: the first in the present day where Kate is mired in grief; the second where Kate wakes up back in the 1990s where she is about to meet Luke for the first time; and the third where Kate is back in the present and in the midst of a car chase! Olivia Colman narrates this audiobook and she really adds to the novel, I really recommend the audio. I reviewed this book here.

What I Might Read Next

I’m still working on catching up with some of my NetGalley books at the moment so in the coming days I’m likely to be reading more of them. I’m reading by whim just now but these four are the ones that appeal to me the most as I’m writing this post!

The Life We Almost Had by Amelia Henley

The Split by Sharon Bolton

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood

Watch Over You by M. J. Ford

What have you been reading this week? I’d love to hear. And if you take part in WWW Wednesdays or This Week in Books please feel free to leave your link below and I’ll make sure to visit and comment on your post. 🙂

41 thoughts on “WWW Wednesdays (22 Jul 20)! What are you reading?”

  4. Some great books there and I love that, like me, you’re sprinkling the books on race in amongst the other reads, as you have done before, to keep that drip feed of information and discussion going.

    I’m behind myself in reviewing so I’ve really just finished Dorothy Evelyn Smith’s “Miss Plum and Miss Penny” which is a Dean Street Press reprint I really enjoyed (review to come on Monday) and Kim Gordon’s “Girl in a Band” which I review tomorrow.

    I’m currently reading TIm Parks’ “Where I’m Reading From” which is more literary and serious than I thought, and about to start Jon Bloomfield’s “Our City” which is about immigrants in Birmingham and their effect on our city (Books 11 and 12 in my 20 books of summer!).

    Then it will be “The Oxford Illustrated History of Books” to review for Shiny, and I might pop Nadiya Hussein’s novel on the Kindle for lighter moments.

    Reply

    • Thank you 🙂 I want to make sure that my reading about race isn’t a short term thing so am adding those books in amongst my other reading. It gives me chance to digest what I’ve read and to take it on board too.

      I’ll look out for your review of Girl in a Band tomorrow – I’ve had that on my TBR ever since it came out.

      The Oxford Illustrated History of Books sounds good, I’ll look out for your review of that. I’ve read Nadiya Hussein’s first novel and quite enjoyed it. I keep meaning to read the next one, I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply

  6. Glad you’re reading the McAllister, Hayley. I’ve heard that’s very good. And James Baldwin’s writing is powerful and compelling. I’m glad you read that one. The rest of your choices really look good, too. Of course, not necessarily good for the TBR… 😉

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  9. Terribly jealous you got approved for Summerwater! Looking so much forward to reading it. What a great reading week you had!

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  14. It looks like you have had a really good week reading. I must try the NetGalley audiobooks as they do look good. Hope you are well. 🙂

    Reply

    • It’s been a great week of reading, I’m so happy to have my mojo back. The audiobooks on NG are great, the app is still a little clunky but I’m sure they’ll get it sorted out. I’m doing okay thanks, I hope you are too. 🙂 x

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  15. I love the sound of How To Disappear and Summerwater – but they are all intriguing reads. I hope this coming week is another excellent reading week for you, Hayley:)

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