WWW Wednesday 5/6 /19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, audiobook read by Stephen Briggs (cover art pictured by Laura Ellen Anderson)

I am gulping down the Tiffany Aching books. I’m nearly at the end of this now, just a chapter to go.

Tiffany’s trip to the city has made me keen to return to Ankh Morpork too – looking forward to (re) reading the other Discworld books!

The Nowhere Emporium by Ross McKenzie (eBook)

I keep my ebooks for the dark lonely hours of night wakes and feeds but Peapod’s sleep is even more unpredictable than normal at the moment so I’ve either actually managed to get a bit of sleep or the complete opposite where I’ve been up nearly all night but either too tired or too busy wrestling am unsettled bubs to read!

Long and short of it is that I haven’t got very far with this yet!

What have you just finished reading?

Owen and the Soldier by Lisa Thompson, cover art by Mike Lowery

I was really pleased to see Lisa Thompson had written this fir Barrington Stoke, I hope she’ll do more, I think her style is a great fit for them.

This was a great, quick read with her usual depth of understanding and a believable voice that her target audience should find easy to relate to. Review to follow.

No Ballet Shoes In Syria by Catherine Bruton, cover art by Kathrin Honesta

I really enjoyed this. Yes, there were a couple of things that grated on my cynical old self but not enough to put me off the book as a whole and for children, they provide a good balance to some of the harder parts.

I liked that there was a satisfactory ending without something happening that could have happened. Though, if I’m being nit-picky, the other thing that could have happened and did happen I’d have preferred to be left not knowing about too. (Sorry, vague I know but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who’s not read it!)

Overall though, I really enjoyed it and I loved the writing style and the use of flashbacks, memories and conversations to tell Aya’s story. Review to follow.

What will you read next?

Audio

The Shepherd’s Crown – the last of the Tiffany Aching books.

E-book

Murder Most Unladylike.

Physical copy

I’m taking part in the #PinkRabbitReadalong on Twitter so I’ll be re-reading that next.

Im not sure what else I think I prob need to crack on with some of the YA I have waiting – Deathless Girls is a strong contender!

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

Will you be taking part in the #PinkRabbitReadalong too?

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WWW Wednesday 28/5/19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, audiobook read by Stephen Briggs (cover art pictured by Laura Ellen Anderson)

I am gulping down the Tiffany Aching books.
This one seems to take on slightly older, grittier subjects and tone, but that makes sense when you consider Tiffany has been getting older and wiser and more experienced throughout the books and is now 16 and a pretty accomplished witch. I’m very much enjoying it regardless.

The Nowhere Emporium by Ross McKenzie (eBook)

I’ve been meaning to read this for years, and actually have a paper copy of it on my shelf but the sequel is out and I still haven’t read it so I’ve got the eBook from the library to try and finally catch up! I’ve only read the first couple of pages but I get the feeling from. The writing style and opening that I’m going to enjoy it…

What have you just finished reading?

Wild Folk Rising by Sylvia Linsteadt, cover art by Sandra Dieckmann

I loved the first Stargold Chronicles book last year (my review of that one is here) so had such high hopes for this and it more than lived up to them. I loved this so much and as a pair of books to read one after the other, even better. I’ll post a full review soon, but honestly this book just had everything, it was wonderful.

Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy, cover art by George Ermos (eBook)

I know everyone loves this and raves about it, it’s going on the Unrateable shelf here though. I’m sorry! It was an enjoyable enough read and I can see why it’s so popular but it just didn’t really do it for me.

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett, audiobook read by Stephen Briggs (cover art pictured by Laura Ellen Anderson)

While I did enjoy this, I think it was my least favourite of the Tiffany Aching books so far. Although maybe that has something to do with reading all about winter in the middle of summer, I’m not sure.

What will you read next?

Audio

The Shepherd’s Crown – the last of the Tiffany Aching books.

E-book

Murder Most Unladylike. I seem to have been saying I’m reading this next for ages – I had it reserved from the library but then saw they had it on audio so cancelled my eBook reservation in favour of that. But then Tiffany Aching took over on audio, so I’m back waiting for the eBook of this! It should be available by the time I finish the Nowhere Emporium.

Physical copy

I am just about to start No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton.

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

WWW Wednesday 8/5/19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

Wild Folk Rising by Sylvia Linsteadt, cover art by Sandra Dieckmann

I have been SO looking forward to this after loving book one last year (my review of that one is here) I started it last night and stepped straight back into Farallone. At the moment, though I know danger lurks, there’s a real feeling of comfort and excitement to be back. If you missed book one, make sure you read it now – it was a real favourite of mine from last year.

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett, audiobook read by Stephen Briggs (cover art pictured by Laura Ellen Anderson)

I’ve just moved straight onto this from The Wee Free Men (see below) today and am enjoying it immensely already.

Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy, cover art by George Ermos (eBook)

OK, I haven’t actually got further than opening this up on my library app but I’m excited to finally be getting round to reading it!

What have you just finished reading?

Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll (eBook)

This was an enjoyable read, I really liked the supernatural theme and as always from Emma Carroll the historical nature of the book felt spot on, really believable and as if you’re in it. I was less keen on the romantic slant of the book though, and didn’t like the narrator’s obsession with Kit. Overall, I enjoyed this but not as much as the other books I’ve read by Emma Carroll.

The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble (paperback)

I loved Bren MacDibble’s How to Bee (you can read my review of it here) and I really enjoyed this too. One of the things that really stood out for me was how engrossing the book was with just two main characters journeying across an almost deserted land, which is vividly described. There’s strong themes of family and the environment and it’s a really cleverly balanced, absorbing book.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, audiobook read by Stephen Briggs (cover art pictured by Laura Ellen Anderson)

I was struggling to find audiobooks I wanted to read from my library app so caved, bought some more audible credit and started on the Tiffany Aching books.

It’s years (at least decade but that makes me feel very old!) since I read Discworld but I used to absolutely love them and have been planning to go back to them and re-read them for ages. I always see the Tiffany Aching books in work too and think “I really must read them” so that’s where I’ve started.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Pratchett’s trademark dry, clever and observant humour runs through it. The Nac Mac Feegles are brilliant, Tiffany is a hugely likeable and relatable main character and my heart positively leapt when Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg made an appearance! I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

What are you planning on reading next?

Audio

I love that I can download audiobooks from my library but I’m going to have to get much more organised at reserving them in plenty of time as so many of those I tried are on loan! I have Murder Most Unladylike and the Finn Family Moomintroll reserved so they’ll be up soon, til then I’m working through the Tiffany Aching books.

E-book

I’ve only just started Brightstorm, so it’ll be a while before I’m ready for a new one. I might try another Emma Carroll (The Girl Who Walked on Air is a string contender) but who knows – by then I might have found something that I must put straight to the top of the pile!

Physical copy

Nosy Crow very kindly sent me a proof of Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton so that’s jumped to the top of my TBR, especially after being so highly recommended by Amy over at Golden Books Girl!

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

WWW Wednesday 1/5/19

I’ve had something of a blog slump recently but I figured WWW Wednesday would be a good way to kick off again. And my review of Rumblestar is going up tomorrow to so I’m back with a bang!

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll (eBook)

Well, it’s not exactly seasonal but I’ve kept saying I’m going to read the earlier Emma Carroll books I’ve not read yet sbd I’m waiting for either Brightstorm or Murder Most Unladylike to become available from the library, so I’ve chosen this in the meantime.

I’m only a couple of chapters in but I’m enjoying it, I think Emma Carroll is such a talented writer. I always find her books to be so well pitched, always with such a feel of the time and place they’re set in and a great balance between history, friendship and adventure. This one looks to be no different.

The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble (paperback)

I loved Bren MacDibble’s How to Bee (you can read my review of it here) so I was really excited about this and so far I’m loving it.

Like How to Bee, it takes on an environmental issue – fast forwarding into the not at all distant future to create a dystopia where the worst has happened. In this case there’s no more grass left, it’s been killed by a fungus, and food is increasingly scarce.

It’s the characters that make it though – realistic, believable and loveable, they inject a bleak outlook with hope.

08 have you just finished reading?

A Witch Come True by James Nicol (ebook)

No surprises here, but a satisfying and enjoyable ending to the trilogy!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling (audiobook read by Stephen Fry.)

I’ve finished my Harry Potter audio book re-read! It’s been wonderful to revisit Hogwarts and The Burrow, Honeydukes and Hagrid’s hut – like being back amongst friends. There’ve been surprises along the way (some lovely, some less so – Fred!) and plenty I’d completely forgotten about. I have to admit there’s all sorts of things that wouldn’t have bothered me first time round that were a little irksome this time – I could go a while without reading about anyone’s eyes twinkling or anyone gliding anywhere and all the relationship dramas in Goblet of Fire can do one. BUT I still loved them. I’m still looking forward to reading them with Peapod (what better excuse to buy the gorgeous illustrated hardbacks!) and I don’t know quite what to do with myself now I’m done!

The Umbrella Mouse by Anna Fargher, illustrated by Sam Usher

I’ll review this in the coming week or two. I’ll be honest, I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, but I think that it was very different to what I was expecting and I’d rather got my hopes up for it. I’d definitely still recommend it – I know some readers will love this, but it didn’t end up being my sort of book. Enjoyable but not mind blowing!

What are you planning on reading next?

Audio

I love that I can download audiobooks from my library but I’m going to have to get much more organised at reserving them in plenty of time as so many of those I tried are on loan! But I have reserved Murder Most Unladylike and the Moomins for now! Open to suggestions though!

E-book

It’ll be a while before I finish Frost Hollow Hall and I did have Murder Most Unladylike lined up next, but I’m going to go for the audiobook of that instead and read Brightstorm as an eBook. I think…!

Physical copy

I was lucky enough to beg a copy of The Wild Folk Rising from the lovely Stevie at Usborne so that has gone straight yo the top of my pile! I loved the first Wild Folk book last year (you can read my review of it here) and have been eagerly awaiting book 2!

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

WWW Wednesday 17/4/19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

A Witch Come True by James Nicol (ebook)

I had thought I was going to have to wait for this as it wasn’t available as an ebook from the library, but I found kobo which had £3 off your first book so got it as a bargain ebook from there! I just couldn’t wait when book 2 ended as it did! I’m only a couple of pages in so far…

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling (audiobook read by Stephen Fry.)

I’m still really enjoying the Harry Potter audiobooks. I’m right near the end of this and have just reached that ‘no…no…surely not…but it can’t be…NO’ point (if you’ve read it you’ll know, if you haven’t I don’t want to give it away!) As I mentioned last week, I really haven’t remembered this book at all but as this part approached all the familiar feelings of disbelief and hope against hope from the first read were well and truly back!

The Umbrella Mouse by Anna Fargher, illustrated by Sam Usher

I started this last night after much deliberation over what to read next! I’m only a couple of chapters in but very much enjoying the tone and feel of it so far.

What have you just finished reading?

Rumblestar by Abi Elphinstone

Oh, this book! It is incredible. Its gone straight into my favourites from this year, last year, possibly just ever. The sheer imagination in it is wonderful and it seems to take all the best aspects of Abi’s previous books and put them together with a new magic too. I’ll review it in the next week or so, but honestly – you can’t fail to love this book.

The Bookshop Girl by Sylvia Bishop, illustrated by Ashley King (ebook) .

I read this in a night (so those of you who know me will know this makes it a very quick read indeed!) and I LOVED it! What a fun, funny and generally fantastic book. Brilliant characters, a bookshop to die for (the imagination that’s gone into the book emporium is phenomenal and I really, really wish it existed in real life!) a snappy, pacey adventure and a rather grumpy but very clever cat – it’s simply fab!

A Witch Alone by James Nicol

I enjoyed this even more than the first book – just as easy and enjoyable a read but with more drama, more dark magic and more secrets and suspense. I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out in book 3!

What are you planning on reading next?

It’ll be a while before I finish anything I think, but when I do:

Audio

I’ll be on the last of the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows, soon!

E-book

Murder Most Unladylike is available from the library from early May so depending on how long A Witch Alone takes me, I’ll either go straight onto that or squeeze in Erica’s Elephant, another Sylvia Bishop, in between if I have time.

Physical copy

To be decided on…Peculiar Peggs, A Darkness of Dragons, Scavengers, The Dog Runner, The Girl With Shark’s Teeth…plus I have a couple of YA proofs on the way that I’m actually looking forward to (I know, shocking!)

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

WWW Wednesday 10/4/19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

A Witch Alone by James Nicol

I enjoyed the first book in this series and the first few chapters of this are certainly loving up to expectations. Arianwyn is as likeable as ever and Gimma quite the reverse! It promises just as many fantastic creatures and spirits, both good and bad, more magical mishaps and generally a good, fun read!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling, read by Stephen Fry.

I’m still really enjoying the Harry Potter audiobooks. I have to admit, I don’t remember this one at all. I had no recollection of Slughorn and can’t remember a thing that happens! So it’ll be interesting to see whether it starts coming back to me as I read it or whether it’s like reading it for the first time again!

Rumblestar by Abi Elphinstone

I don’t have as much time to read physical books but I’m slowly tumbling into the wonderful world of Rumblestar – it’s brilliantly imaginative and Utterly Thankless is Utterly Fantastic! Absolutely loving it!

What have you just finished reading?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling, read by Stephen Fry.

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

What are you planning on reading next?

It’ll be a while before I finish anything I think, but when I do:

Audio

I’ll be on the last of the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows, soon!

E-book

I’d love to go straight onto the final book in James Nicole’s Apprentice Witch series, A Witch Come True, but sadly its not available yet as an ebook so I’ll have to wait!

Instead, I’m hoping to read Murder Most Unladylike (Amy will be pleased to hear!) but it’s currently on loan, so it’ll either be that or Sylvia Bishop’s Bookshop Girl (as Charlotte reminded me this week that I’d still not read it despite loving The Secret of the Night Train).

Physical copy

To be decided on…

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?

WWW Wednesday 3/4/19

WWW Wednesday is hosted by ‘Taking on a World of Words’ every Wednesday’:

What are you currently reading?

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol

I mentioned last week how I’d chosen to read the e-book of this (from the library) on my phone so I can read in bed without waking Peapod!

It’s been a perfect choice for these overnight reading and feeding sessions. It’s fairly short (I should finish it in the next couple of nights, if not overnight tonight) and an easy read that maybe won’t be in any of my ‘Top….’ lists but is nevertheless very, very enjoyable.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling, read by Stephen Fry.

I’m still really enjoying the Harry Potter audiobooks and this is one of my favourite books in the series. Mostly because it makes me so angry (Dolores Umbridge especially, but Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley, I am also looking at you!) but also because of The Order itself which is filled with some of the best people. (How under-rated is Lupin in the series?!)

Rumblestar by Abi Elphinstone

I feel so lucky to have been sent a proof of this, I have been looking forward to it for ages having read her books and, though I’m only a chapter in, it is well and truly living up to expectations! Magical!

I’ve got the proof version, but the real cover (designed by Carrie May and Jenny Richards) was revealed on twitter last week and it’s stunning. I’m a big fan of a map in a book and this has that feel on the cover.

As an Abi Elphinstone aside, I found out this week that she has a picture book coming out in late October too! How flipping exciting!

What have you just finished reading?

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi.

I don’t even know where to begin trying to talk about this book! It was fantastic, in both senses of the word. I’ll be reviewing it (as best I can!) this week or next, in the meantime I’ll leave you with the knowledge that it was excellent but with the advisory note to redd it in big chunks if you csn – it’s much easier to follow than if you’re only managing little snippets at a time!

What are you planning on reading next?

I’ll definitely be continuing with Harry Potter on audio. I’ll be starting Half Blood Prince this week.

I’m going to read the next Apprentice Witch book – A Witch Alone – as an overnight ebook too!

It’ll be a while before I finish Rumblestar, so I don’t know what physical book will be next. I have an absolute stack to get through! Scavengers by Darren Simpson and the final installment in Alice Broadway’s Ink Trilogy, Scar, are both hig on the list though.

Having finished Gingerbread, I’d also really like to find time (hahaha, I know!) to read some of the adult fiction titles sat patiently waiting on my shelf too, but I have no idea yet how I’ll manage this!

Have you read any of these?

What are you reading at the moment?