Fire round coming up … I’m going to give short statements as to why I DNF’d these books. I can say with absolute clarity and honestly that I will be going back to these books. They are not leaving my shelves. They have just been started, stopped and then removed from my bedside table (immediate book grabbing pile).
WWW Wednesday is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words 📚 It is a book tag to broaden the reading community and help connect avid readers!
All you have to do is answer the following three questions:
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
CR:Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin has me captivated and desperate to find out where these characters lives are at the end of the novel. I cannot wait to break down each character and my thoughts in a full review when I finish this. I have SO many thoughts on Sadie, Sam, Marx and Dov. Golly, if any of my previous encouragement has not gotten you over the line in reading this novel, this is your calling – DO IT!
RF:The Redgum River Retreat by Sandie Docker was an Australian fiction I recently finished and loved this month. As you longtime book blog followers will know, Sandie is not only one of my favourite authors but also one of my favourite people! Sandie was the first Australian author I interviewed on this blog and she was/is incredibly kind. I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to actually meet Sandie in a week as she visits my local bookstore. It was an absolute pleasure reading her latest novel (in 48hr as per usual – I ADORE them all) and to have organised a few events for her.
RN:How To Be Remembered by Michael Thompson is a perfectly modern and unique spin on The Time Traveller’s Wife and also a novel that I am half way through … meaning, I desperately need to finish it and write a review. Additionally, having the pleasure of meeting Michael recently upon my organisation of his visit to our local store, ensured my desire to finish Tommy Llewellyn’s story.
It’s here folks! Here you have it in all its glory – ‘My Year in Books (2022 edition)’ 🥳
2021 was a slow reading year for me. Many life events, challenges and fantastic times came far above and beyond my reading habits which I’m both happy and bummed about. Sometime life happens and that folk, is quite alright 🤗 Yet, in all the messiness …
This year I have:
⭐️ Conducted 5 interviews on my blog with Australia authors whom I admire
⭐️ Interviewed Sulari Gentill in person and organised the book launch for ‘The Woman in the Library’
⭐️ Connected Australian Authors to my book club meetings
⭐️ Started writing my own novel
In 2022 I read a total of 38 books! If you’d like to see my individual ratings for each book, you can jump onto my GoodReads (click here)
The 🔦 TORCH emoji will indicate if these books were part of my Crime Fiction Fanatic Book Club
The 🎨 ART PALETE emoji will indicate if these books were part of my Literature Lovers Book Club
The 🎤 MICROPHONE emoji will indicate if these books have a review on my blog – have a read
‘Devotion’ by Hannah Kent 🎤 (read 2x)
‘The Spanish Love Deception’ by Elena Armes 🎤
‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood
‘The Natural Way of Things’ by Charlotte Wood
‘Infinite Country’ by Patricia Engel 🔦
‘The Unhoneymooners’ by Christina Lauren 🎤
‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Crowley-Heller 🎤
‘The Woman in the Library’ by Sulari Gentill (read 2x) 🔦
Moria Rose from Schitt’s Creek has been my vibe for the past month!
I have been MIA on the blog as my personal life, job and health have all been quite demanding and well … chaotic. There is no other way to describe the tasks, events and feelings of the past month that was September.
Within the bookstore we have seen a number of fantastic authors walk through our doors (and many more to come), we’ve seen unexpected pivots and I, personally, have been growing my managerial skills in leaps and bounds due to unexpected circumstances. This is positive growth for me but it does not come without exhaustion and in turn, rest.
However, we’re on the rise book friends and the future is looking bright! I am officially rostering in some reading, reviewing, friends, family and wholesome time. I’m scheduled to leave the chaos behind for a little while and just find the things I love most again.
I’ve attempted to read a number of books this month but I’ve shuffled of the bandwagon and leapt into 10 hour sleeps instead #whoops. Here’s the half September wrap:
I need to preface that NONE of these book are BAD! As you can see this month I’ve bounced around from historical fiction, to romance, to literature, to rural romance and back to literature again. My brain had no idea what it wanted to read, and you know what, that’s okay! Because now I have 5 fantastic books that are a quarter of the way read that I can just pick up and keep going at any time – glass half full right? 🤣
Happy weekend to you all and I hope you take the time, as I am, to leave the chaos behind … even just for 24 hours. Mel xx
I’m all about comfort when I’m reading. I will squirm, switch spots, cross and recross my legs and then huff that I’m in a good spot but then forget where I sat my coffee. Squirm, switch, cross, recross and huff I go again! Seriously, the life of a reader 🙄🤣
Essentially, what I’m saying is that comfort is key to immersing yourself in a good book and feeling content. I recently researched, compared and purchased the most fabulous staple for book worms – a Reading Cushion!
Where did you get it Mel? Pillow Talk Australia or pillowtalk.com.au
How much was it? I purchased this striped, soft grey reading cushion at full price, HOWEVER, it is currently on sale for $47.95 (I would jump on that!)
How often have you actually used it? I’m not joking with you when I say that every time I pick up my book, I also pick up this reading cushion (see the handle). I’m hiking this bad boy with me everywhere!
Perfect for sitting perched up in bed, relaxing on the couch, or maybe even on the lawn while reading in the sun. I’m obsessed – you might be too!
Mel Reviews Her Books 