What I've read this month (May)

Two trips away, to Wiltshire and then camping in Hastings, plus an illness has meant that blogging hasn't been a priority this month. To be honest I'm giving myself a little break, over two years of regular posting has left me feeling burnt out, and as I began to see it more as a chore than a hobby, the quality of the content was suffering. 

I'm going to Istanbul on Thursday, so my hiatus is going to carry on for at least another week. Hopefully when I return I'll have the time and motivation to start posting regularly again. 

Anyway, here's what I've read this month-    

1. Robin Hobb, Golden Fool
2. Therese Anne Fowler, Z; A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
3. Chibunda Onuzo The Spider King's Daughter
4. Lauline  Paull, The Bees 
5. Rene Denfeld The Enchanted 
6. Anthony Doer All the Light we Cannot See (I was 2 chapters from the end when this was mistakenly taken back to the library) 

There wasn't a dud among this month's books. The weakest was The Spider King's Daughter, and that was still readable. it's sparse writing style just meant it was slightly confusing sometimes about what was going on, but it was still interesting. I know very little about Lagos, so it was good to find out more more about the city and Nigerian culture. 

Most of these books are deserving of a full blog post to themselves. The Bees - who would have thought that a novel about a hive would be so gripping? Yes it is about actual bees, but it is so much more than that,  it is a dystopian novel about oppressive regimes and power structures. I was cheering on Flora 717 just as hard as I did Katniss or Offred. 

picture source

The Enchanted is almost Kafkaian. A novel set on death row, it is psychological tract on criminal responsibility, mitigation and the American justice system. Odd, but provoking. 

I devoured Z in a day. If you haven't got a holiday book sorted yet, you may want to add this to your pile. A fictionalised account of Zelda Fitzgerald, the 1920's 'It girl' married to one of America's most famous classic writers, F. Scott. The real Zelda was complex, infuriating and glamorous, and this characterisation shines just as bright.

All the Light we Cannot See would probably be my monthly top pick - but alas due to a mix up I haven't finished it yet- so it may well have a poor ending! I'm betting it doesn't though. Books about World War II are available in abundance, but rarely are they this good, or this original. Once I've got it back from the library (I'm 9th in the queue) I promise to do a full review. 

Actually - once I got down to it, writing this blog was fun, I'm still going to take a break but I'll be back before you know it! xxx

what I've read this month (April)

Sorry I've been m.i.a again this month, I've just been extremely tired. I have managed to get a fair amount of reading done;- 

1. Chris Abani, Song for Night
2. Charlaine Harris, Dead Ever After 
3. Irvine Welsh- Sex Lives of Siamese Twins
4. George R.R Martin, A Clash of Kings (re-read)
5. Laila Ibrahim, Yellow Crocus 
6. Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive (memoir) 
7. Susanna Kaysen, Girl Interrupted (memoir)  

I read the bulk of my bumper library haul, but just couldn't get into In Praise Of Hatred and I haven't even started The Kingdom of Bones. I'm a couple of chapters into The Seven Sisters, and so far so good, the reason I haven't progressed further with it is because it's rather chunky. Far too heavy to be carting around on my commute. 

Anyway, out of the books I have finished this month, Yellow Crocus is the shinning star. A powerful historical novel told from the perceptive of a wet nurse and her charge. I completely wore myself out as I stayed up half the night to finish it. Highly recommend. My mum loved it too. 

Song for Night  is an interesting one, a tiny novella but every word has a big impact. Inspired by Dante's Inferno, it is the story of a child solider who wakes up to find himself alone after a bomb blast. There is so many horrific things about this story, the nameless boy has had his vocal cords severed, so he won't cry out and forewarn the enemy, but it is also beautifully written. This juxtaposition makes for a memorable novel. 

I also read two memoirs about mental health. Girl Interrupted is closer to a novel, and Reasons to Stay Alive more like a manual, so they are not directly comparable. Both however are inspiring and honest accounts of mental health and recovery.  

what I've read this month (March)

Time for my monthly round up:-

1. Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip 
2. Kitty Hart-Moxon, Return to Auschwitz  (non-fiction)
3. Jackie Collins, Sinners 
4. Mary Roach, Stiff  (non-fiction)
5. George R.R Martin Game of Thrones (re-read)
6. Paula Hawkins, The Girl on a Train 

mini review under the cut:-

what I've read this month (February)

The shortest month of the year caught me by surprise and I forgot to post my monthly round up on the last day of February, so here it is:

1. Margaret Atwood, Stone Mattress
2. Bernadette Barton, Stripped
3. Sarah Waters, Tipping the Velvet (re-read)
4. Vikas Swarup, Q&A
5. C. J Sansom, Lamentation 
6. Jennifer McVeigh, The Fever Tree
7. Jacqueline Susann, The Valley of the Dolls
8. Xiaolu Guo, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers  

I still want to review a couple of these books, but I've been so disorganised recently. Still, I did manage to get reviews up of both the best and the worst of this month reads. The Fever Tree was my favourite, for it's cinematic and engaging love story. Stripped was the poorest as it need to be more academical rigorous and less repetitive.

Another highlight of the month was The Valley of the Dolls a cult-classic about the entertainment industry this book is the good type of trash. Published in 1966 is has surprisingly stood the test of time, and could criticism of Hollywood could easily be applicable for today.

Though not the worst book, perhaps the most disappointing was Q&A, as I had high expectations because I love the film adaptation (Slumdog Millionaire). The novel didn't have the same emotional pull on me as the film, and there were parts that were so poorly written they became dull.

Stone Mattress is written by my hands down favourite author, and though I enjoyed aspects of this short story collection, my dislike towards the medium stopped this from being crowned this months winner.

Tipping the Velvet was a re-read. I've mentioned my love for Sarah Waters before, her novels are so vivid, she really manages to capture a sense of time and place in her historic novels. If you've not read any of her books you really should give her a try, Fingersmith is my personal top pick.

I read a fair bit of historical fiction this month, Tipping the Velvet, Lamentation and The Fever Tree - it's one of my favourite genres so it was really lovely to have a bit of a binge on it.

what I've read this month (January)

First round-up posts of the year - feels like the blog has got off to a slow start. I haven't posted as much as I intended, nor read as much as I expected.

But, here is a list of what I have read:-
1. Madeline Miller, Song of Achilles (re-read, review here)
2. Lee Child, Never Go Back
3. Steven Saylor, Roma 
4. Tom Rob Smith, Child 44
5. J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone  (re-read)
6. Warren FitzGerald, The Go Away Bird 

The worst novel of the month was undoubtedly Never Go Back racist, sexist and formulaic. I highly suggest you skip this, and read one of the earlier books in the Jack Reacher series.

Of course, I had to read Harry Potter after visiting the studio tour, I'm going to put up some more pictures from my visit next week. I also started the year by re-reading my another one of my favourite books of all time The Song of Achilles, I feel emotionally moved by this beautiful love story every time I read it.

Out of the new (to me) books I read, Child 44 was the best, but to be honest it was out of a rather weak bunch. I found out recently it's going to be turned into a film, and it is part of a series of books. I doubt I'm going to read any of the others though, because it's strength was that it introduced me to a period of Russian history I'm ignorant about, and it would probably be a better idea just to read some non-fiction about this period.

A Year in Books

It's new years eve today (obviously) so I'm going to reflect on my year in books.

By my count I've read a grand total of 103 books this year, the reviews for which can be found in either my review tag, my year in books tag or on my alphabetised list page. 

Under the jump is a general sort of breakdown of the books I've read, plus the worst 5 reads of the year. Not sure if this post will be of any interest to anyone, other than me, but I had fun looking back and considering what I've read this year.

If your a bibliophile I highly recommend recording (either on blog form, or just in a notebook) what you've read.  

what I've read this month (December)

Another short list this month, I haven't read as much as I expected over Christmas.

1. Lyndsay Faye, Dust and Shadow
2. Mary Roach, Gulp (non-fiction)
3. Karen Joy Fowler, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves   

I also started a couple of books J by Howard Jacobson and Exodus: Immigration and Multiculturalism in the 21st Century, Paul Collier and another Man Booker - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour. I'm probably going to polish them all off next both.

I found it a real struggle to get into a book this month, I felt quite apathetic about reading, plus I was short on time. The three books I did read however, were all rather good. Glup was my favourite, an unusual choice seeing as it is a non-fiction book about digestion.

what I've read this month (November)

This post should have gone up yesterday, but I was out and about. This month I've read a grand total of two books:-

1. Patrick Rothfus, The Wise Man's Fear 
2. Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North 

The Narrow Road was this years' Man Booker winner, but as you can see by my review I wasn't blown away by it. 

The Wise Man's Fear is the second book in a fantasy series I'm intending to work my way through. My review of the first book can be read here.  This one is more of the same really, a solid fantasy epic, that is sometimes formulaic but nevertheless entertaining. 

I've started several books this month, but have yet to finish them. On a morning I'm just picking up whatever is to hand and whatever can fit in my bag, so it has meant my reading this month has been bitty. 

Hopefully I'm going to be more organised this month, and be able to read more and blog more regularly. 

what I've read this month (October)

Here's my monthly round-up:-

1. Robin Hobb, Assassin's Quest 
2. Jessie Burton, The Miniaturist
3. Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation 
4. Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself
5. Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind 
6. James Dashner, The Maze Runner
7. Robin Hobb, Fool's Errand 
8. Emma Healy, Elizabeth is missing 
9. Sarah Waters, The Paying Guests 

I've read a fair bit of fantasy this month, 4 out of the 9. Fool's Errand was the best of the bunch, to see my review of the first book of the series see here. I'm a bit wary of reviewing the books individually, as it will contain a lot of spoilers and I'm thinking it will be probably be best if I hold of and review the series in its entirety once I'm done. 

Two of my list could be regarded as science fiction, Annihilation and The Maze Runner, and I was frankly unimpressed with both of them. 

The Paying Guests and The Miniaturist are both accomplished novels. They are historical fiction, with The Paying Guests set in London in the 1920s and The Miniaturist  is set in Holland in 1686. 

The absolute highlight of this month was Elizabeth is Missing. It is just outstanding, I was profoundly moved throughout. It is just one of those books that you want to share with everyone, I strongly urge you to read it. 

what I've read this month (September)

 Here's my monthly round-up of what I've read in September:-
(click on the title to see my full review)

1. Patrick DeWitt, The Sisters Brothers 
2. Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere 
3. Claire King, The Night Rainbow
4. Robin Hobb, Assasin's Apprentice 
5. Patrick Ness, More Than This 
6. Michel Faber, The Fire Gospel 
7. Robert Harris, Pompeii 
8. Robin Hobb, Royal Assassin 
9. Ian McEwan, The Children Act
10. M.R.C Kasasian, The Mangle Street Murders 
11. Audery Magee, The Undertaking 

This month I concentrated on diversifying the genre I usually read. I started a new fantasy series that I've really enjoyed, Robin Hobb's Assassin novels. Although Game of Thrones still wears the crown for my favourite fantasy saga, the Assassin books are keeping me entertained and I've come to regard Fitz, the Fool and other characters fondly. If sword fighting, power struggles and magic are your thing, I highly recommend you give Robin Hobb a chance. 

Another highlight  this month was The Mangle Street Murders, a detective story set in 19th Century. A pastiche of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Mangle Street was far funnier than I expected. Sidney Grice and March Middleton are an unlikely partnership who's bickering and intriguing backstories kept me amused. The streets and slums of London come to life thanks to Kasasian's vivid descriptions. Thank you again, to Tiziana for the recommendation

The disappointment of the month was Michel Faber's The Fire Gospel. For me, it just didn't live up to the standards of the other Cannongate myth series. 

Is there anything that you read this month and particularly enjoyed? I love receiving recommendations,  so put your suggestions in the comments below or send my an email at bookandcuppa@gmail.com 

what I've read this month (August)

Poor show this month, I've not read as much as I usually do (see 'a year in book' to see what I've read so far).

Here's my reading list:-

1. Lionel Shriver, Big Brother 
2. Robert Gailbraith, The Silkworm (J.K Rowling)
3. Haruki Murakami, Tsukuri Tasaki and His Years of Pilgrimage 
4. Toni Morrison, Beloved
5. Stephanie Meyer, Eclipse (re-read. Ashamed of this one- but it was on telly) 
6. Samuel Selvon, The Lonely Londoners  

(click on the book title to follow the link)

This month's highlight was Big Brother a controversial and confrontational novel about obesity. Toni Morrison's Beloved also comes highly recommended, and J.K is really beginning to hit her stride with post-Harry Potter novels.  

I need to get round to reviewing The Lonely Londoners has I think it is probably over-looked as a book. I hadn't heard of it until I spotted my sister's boyfriend reading it. It's all about the experiences of a group of men emigrating to Britain from the Caribbean in the late 40s early 50s and it's really rather good.    

what I've read this month (July)

Here's what I've read this month (click to see full review)

1. Max Barry, Lexicon
2. Graham Joyce, Some Kind of Fairy Tale 
3. Octavia Butler, Mind of My Mind 
4. Octavia Butler, Clay's Ark
5. Elizabeth Haynes, Into the Darkest Corner  
6. Helene Wecker, The Golem and the Djinni
7. Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fear's Death 
8. Margaret Atwood, The Robber Bride (re-read)
9. Janet Mock, Redefining Realness (non-fiction, autobiography)
10. Octavia Butler, Patternmaster
11. George R.R Martin, A Feast for Crows (re-read)

I'm pleased I've managed to review all of July's books with the exception of one. It has been a concerted effort though, as I realised earlier in the month I'd been a bit lax with doing reviews. 

The stand-out book for me was Elizabeth Haynes' Into the Darkest Corner it was completely gripping, even though it did make me feel anxious. It totally deserved to win Amazon's book of the year in 2011. Best read with all the lights on, or perhaps by the poolside, Into the Darkness Corner is a tense crime thriller. 

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor is another notable book for this month. I've written a ridiculously long review on this science-fiction novel, so all I'm going to say is if your a fan of the genre add this to your reading list. 

Redefining Realness has been the most educational book I've read this year. It is a truly brave and important autobiography that should be read not just by trans people but everyone.   

I did two re-reads this month, The Robber Bride and A Feast for Crows. Margaret Atwood is queen of my heart and I'm obsessed with George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series (#teamTyrion)  

For a full list and links for every book I've reviewed ever, see here 

what I've read this month (June)

Halfway through the year now, and I don't think I've made much headway on my new year reading resolutions. Oops. On the plus side, here's what I have read this month:

Click to see the my review.

1. Wesley Chu The lives of Tao
2. Kate Manning The Notorious Life of Madame X
3. Joanne Harris, The Gospel of Loki 
4. Holly Black, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown 
5. Ryu Murakami, From the Fatherland, with Love 
6. Dubravka Ugresic, Baba Yaga Laid an Egg
7. Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters
8. Octavia E. Butler, Kindred  
9. Glyn Iliffe, Adventures of Odysseus: King of Ithaca 
10. Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, illustrated Jim Kay, A Monster Calls 
11. Patricia Ferguson, The Midwife's Daughter

It's difficult to decide what my favourite book is this month, I've read some really good ones. It's a close call between My Notorious Life by Madame X and Kindred, but I think Octavia E. Butler just scrapes the win with Kindred. It's a novel that I know is going to stay with me, as it is just so emotionally raw. If you're looking for some historical fiction, either of these books would suit you. Both deal with harrowing topics, backstreet abortion and slavery receptively. 

If you're interested more in mythology, I'd have no hesitation recommending The Gospel of Loki and Baba Yaga Laid an Egg. The first is a fantastic, chatty introduction to Norse legends and the second is inspired by Slavic folktales.    

what I've read this month (May)

I've been a bit of a reading slump this month and haven're felt very inspired by most of the books on this list.

Luckily after reading a fair few kindle sample, I found a couple of new books that have sparked my interest and that I'm looking forward to reading the full versions of.

May's book list:

1. Irvine Welsh, Filth
2. James W. Nichol, Transgression: A Novel of Love and War (45% of the way through and then abandoned)  
3. Liz Jensen, The Uninvited 
4. Helen Oyeyemi, The Icarus Girl
5. Martina Cole, Two Woman 
6. Nathan Filer, The Shock of the Fall
7. A whole heap of kindle samples -

• Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death
• Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker
• Krys Lee, Drifting House
• Wesley Chu, The Lives of Tao
• Eliza Victoria, A Bottle of Storm Clouds
• Andrew Vu, Halfkinds Volume 1: Contact  
• Nnedi Okorafor, Lagoon 
• Holly Black, The Coldest Girl in Cold Town 

8. Dave Eggers, The Circle
9. Andrea Eames, White Shadow  

Worst of the month was Two Women (even though I finished it, unlike Transgression) it was on of those books that you just feel slightly soiled after reading. 

The Icarus Girl gets the award for most disappointing, I had high expectations and whilst the novel as some good ideas it is let down by the execution.    

Prize for most original goes to Filth and the narrating tapeworm.

what I've read this month (April)

My monthly round-up of my reading for April. Clink on the links to find my reviews:-

1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah
2. Conn Iggulden, Bones of the Hill (Conqueror series: book 3)
3. Conn Iggulden, Empire of Silver (Conqueror series: book 4))
5. Underground, Haruki Murakami (non-fiction)
6. Margaret Atwood, Positron (Episodes 1-3)
7. Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go 
8. Patrick Ness, Ask and the Answer 
9. Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men 
10. Zadie Smith NW
11. Octavia Butler, Wild Seed 
12. Donna Tartt, The Secret History (re-read, possibly one of my favourite books of all time)
13. Kevin Brockmeir, The Illumination 

14. Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger 

I've managed to read loads this month, including two novels that have been on my radar for a while Americanah and NW. Though neither were a disappointment, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel about Black diaspora, identity and love was my favourite of the two. I should do a full review of NW really, but in brief, I found it to be pedestrian and unnecessarily crude in comparison to Zadie Smith's usual standard.

I'm also pleased that I read a non-fiction book, Haruki Murakami's Underground as it is part of my new years reading resolutions. Though as it is about a terrorist attack on public transport, it probably wasn't the best idea to read it on a long train journey- completely freaked myself out.

My least favourite of the bunch was The Chaos Walking trilogy, which may seem a bit weird because I obviously spent a fair bit of time reading all three. I know people rave about this series, but I found it just too problematic, for a full discussion of why, see here.

My highlight this month was Octavia Butler's Wild Seed, as it is startlingly original (again, I should probs do a full-length review of this). The only downside is, her books are really difficult to get hold of in the UK so I might have to wait a while for the sequels.

I've read 42 books so far this year, not bad going at all! For a full list and links to my reviews click on the year in books tab or follow this link

what I've read this month (March)

Here's my monthly round up, click on the links for my review:

1. Lyndsay Faye, Seven for a Secret
2. Margaret Atwood, Bodily Harm
3. Ian McEwan, Sweet Tooth
4. Nigel Tranter, Robert the Bruce; The Steps to the Empty Throne (only up to page 223)
5. Jo Baker, Longbourn
6. Jeanette Winterson, Weight 
7. A.S Byatt, Ragnarok 
8. Conn Iggulden, The Wolf on the Plains (Conqueror: book 1) 
9. Conn Iggulden, Lords of the Bow (Conqueror: book 2)

I had a slow start to the month, Robert the Bruce completely defeated me. I struggled on for two and half weeks and only got half way through, then I thought why am I doing this? It's really dry, for a story about succession and warfare featuring historic legends Robert the Bruce and William Wallace is was incredibly dull. Although, I have learnt something about the fight for Scottish independence, which I'm grateful for, it wasn't worth me persevering with. 

Best book out of the bunch was undoubtedly A.S Byatt, Ragnarok, if you've read my glowing review you'll know how passionate about this novel. Seven for a Secret was also a solidly good read, although not without flaws. 

Slightly ashamed that there are two Conn Iggulden books on this list (and I'm halfway through a third), they're a bit trashy really, but they're harmless fun and an easy read. The Conqueror series charts the life of Genghis Khan and I've been galloping through them like a Mongol horde sweeping through China. 

Keeping up with my news years challenge, I've started two non-fiction books, hopefully which I'll have finished by the end of next month. 

what I've read this month (February)

Here's the lowdown on what I've read this month (clink on the link for a full review):-

1. Emperor: The Death of Kings, Conn Iggulden
2. Boudica: Dreaming the Bull, Manda Scott
3. Mud, Sweat and Tears, Bear Grylls (autobiography)
4. Emperor: The Field of Swords, Conn Iggulden
5. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins (re-read)
6. A Visit From the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan
7. The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood (re-read)
8. The Lighthouse, Alison Moore

Discounting the re-reads, the book I enjoyed most this month was A Visit from the Goon Squad. as it was the most inventive. Boudica: Dreaming the Bull, comes in at second but is pipped to the post, as it sidelines the female protagonist from the prequel (Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle).

The only point in favour of Mud, Sweat and Tears is it fits in with my new years resolution to read more non-fiction. I don't think Bear Grylls comes across as very likeable, and pages and pages of chat about walking up mountains is incredibly dull. I read it out of desperation as it was the only book in my sisters house.

what I've read this month

I've decided to keep a list of all the book I read (but not necessarily bloged about/reviewed)  this coming year. Partly because I think it will be a nice thing to reflect on at the end of the year, and secondly because it will help me stick to the reading resolutions I've made.

So here's a round up of my first month (click the link to read my reviews):

1. Flappers, Judith Mackrell
2. The Cuckoo's Calling, Robert Gailbraith (J.K Rowling)
3. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
4. Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle, Manda Scott
5. Empire: The Gates of Rome, Conn Iggulden
6. Holy Warrior, Angus Donald
7. Moon over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
8. The Little Coffee Shop of  Kabul,  Deborah Rodriguez
9. Dark Places, Gillian Flynn (by the same author as Gone Girl)
10. The Twelve, Justin Cronin (sequel to The Passage)  
11. Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel

The worst book of the bunch was undoubtedly The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul, my favourite The Goldfinch with Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle a close second.