Overall mood: energised. Returning to uni feels like I’ve been gifted a second wind, making reading and the pursuit of reading rewarding and therapeutic, even when it comes to the academic articles and theses I must read alongside my fiction. I enjoy the reading I do, and with the reads I’ve had this month that should come as no surprise.

Books Read:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 4/5 DNF

Yes, unfortunately, I did DNF The Book Thief, but not because it was a bad or boring book. I thoroughly enjoyed the amount I did read, but I struggle to read it as a reader and not a writer looking at the techniques and stylistic choices made. I would absolutely buy a copy of this book to refer to time and time again with my own writing – part of the reason I still gave it a rating even with its DNF status – but it won’t be in the near future.

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup 4.5/5

I was put onto The Chestnut Man but my mum (who doesn’t read very fast, but managed to finish this in a few days), and I found myself hooked in within a the first few chapters. This is exactly the kind of book you want when you read Crime Fiction. I cannot recommend The Chestnut Man enough to those who read crime fiction, thrillers, suspense novels or adult fiction in general. The cinematic writing will lure you in quicker than you can run.

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn 3.5/5

Another tale of Veronica Speedwell, but I believe this will be my last. I didn’t like the story as much as previous novels and the narrative style has worn thin, making for an adventure I couldn’t find myself excited to embark on. I’m sure this merely a reflection of my reading preferences as I know some people would greatly enjoy a historical fiction mystery that wasn’t doused in blood and dark detail.

Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber 4/5

A reread for the purpose of recalling character interactions, attitudes, and the balance between plot-driven and character-driven prose. I enjoyed revisiting this landscape as this is one of my favourite mysteries in the Lady Darby series. it’s a great reminder that we can continue to learn from things we’ve come across in literature, even if they aren’t the most recent additions.

An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber 3.5/5

Unlike Mortal Arts, I found my reread of An Artless Demise to be underwhelming as what I sought with this novel was not found, nor was I given much to amuse itself with in its absence. It could come down to the same areas I mentioned previously – character interactions, attitudes and the balance between plot-driven and character-driven prose. In this one, I find the interactions and attitudes less favourable and there seems to be so little importance put on the progression of the story, leading me to not care about characters and subplot as much as I did the first time around.

Black Silk and Sympathy by Deborah Challinor 4/5

An interesting idea that I haven’t come across in this setting before, making it feel shiny and new and exciting to read. I appreciate meeting a character who isn’t wholly good as it creates an intriguing dynamic with how she presents herself and what she stands for. I did enjoy this one, but I am not sure how it will unfold as a series – perhaps there is a different character of interest in the second book?

A Deceptive Composition by Anna Lee Huber 4/5

The newest release in the Lady Darby series, A Deceptive Composition certainly did not disappoint. I loved the setting, the descriptive detail and immersion int he the space, and the tensions that seeped into all areas of the novel, even where there wasn’t danger. My only con is that I wish the ending was given more time to resolve as I felt things were rushed in the closing chapter.

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins 5/5

Even after over a decade sitting on my shelves, moving houses and rooms with little to no acknowledgement, I gave The Hunger Games a reread and I was absolutely blown away by hoe compelling and intense the story is. As an adult, I found huge satisfaction out of reading this and I’ve convinced my mum she needs to read it too – we don’t remember if she’s ever read it before, so this will be a wild ride for her. She’s watched the movies, of course, but we all know the books are better than the movies.

On Call by Ineke Meredith, 4/5

Detailing her time studying medicine and practicing as a surgeon, On Call is a heartfelt tale of life, pain, laughter, family, love and devotion, mixed in with some gruesome tales – though not all are bad, in fact that are several life lessons to learn for everyone in these pages. If you read and loved Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt, I highly recommend you pick this up. It’s not an easy read but it is certainly worth it.