books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: October 31 – November 6

Check it out! I’ve finished some of those long running books. I finally had some time at home with the physical books. And I would have done even better, except that I had a migraine on Thursday last week that basically led to me sleeping for 16 hours and spending as much time as possible in a darkened room. I have another busy week coming up this week, but I am optimistic.

Read:

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatio Sancho by Paterson Joseph*

My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood

Dashing through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

Drumsticks by Charlotte Carter

Murder at the Manor by Catherine Coles

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Started:

Murder Most Royal by S J Bennett*

On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera*

Still reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

The Empire by Michael Ball*

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan*

I don’t think I actually bought anything this week. Unless I bought something I have forgotten about, there’s no evidence of purchases in my inbox either.

Bonus photo: in a massive role reversal, I went to listen to my parents play in a concert with their band on Sunday night. They spent many years coming and listening to me playing with school bands, county bands and community bands and now it’s my turn to watch them! They both took up an instrument when they stopped working full time – and it was really cool to see them in action.

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats

October Stats

Books read this month: 31*

New books: 25

Re-reads: 6 (all books)

Books from the to-read pile: 7

NetGalley books read: 5

Kindle Unlimited read: 7

Ebooks: 11

Library books: 0

Audiobooks: 0

Non-fiction books: 2

Favourite book this month: Probably Killers of a Certain Age

Most read author: Charlaine Harris – because of the Harper Connelly reread

Books bought: 6 ebooks plus another ebook preorder, and about 3 actual books

Books read in 2022: 320

Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 652

A month that started with a holiday and plenty of reading time and had a rocky patch in reading terms in the middle but got back on track at the end of the month with a weekend away in Kent and some extra reading time! Interestingly I only realised putting this together that although I have listened to several audio books this month, they’re all ones that I’ve already counted once this year…

Bonus picture: a two holiday/trip month – here’s another picture from Sicily at the start of October!

*Usually includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – although this month it doesn’t!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: October 24 – October 30

So as you’ll see, there is a massive Harper Connelly binge as the start of the week and a weekend away at the end of it. And I still managed to get some other stuff read and made progress on the long runners even if you can’t tell that from the list. So it’s a net yay me. And this is the end of October, so we have all the usual things coming up this week for your delectation.

Read:

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris

The Hog’s Back Mystery by Freeman Willis Crofts

Rooted in Deceit by Wendy Tyson

Some Hauntings Never Go Out of Fashion by Rose Betancourt

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Philips

Started:

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan*

Dashing through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

Still reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatio Sancho by Paterson Joseph*

The Empire by Michael Ball*

One book bought – but I was going on holiday so it’s practically a requirement!

Bonus photo: some monastic ruins and historic buildings out the back of Canterbury Cathedral cloister. I love a good cathedral.

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: October 17 – October 23

So I spent five nights away from home last week. Five. And that’s probably all you need to know about why the list looks like it does. Still I achieved a lot in the real world – even if I didn’t in the actual reading – so I can’t be cross with myself. I even know what I’m writing about tomorrow already so that’s a bonus too.

Read:

Death in the Tunnel by Miles Burton

A Mansion for Murder by Frances Brody

Double Dip by Gretchen Archer

Cherry Ames: Boarding School Nurse by Helen Wells

Heartstopper: Vol 3 by Alice Oseman

Started:

The Hog’s Back Mystery by Freeman Willis Crofts

Still reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatio Sancho by Paterson Joseph*

The Empire by Michael Ball*

I went to Foyles and bought two books – including that new Kate Shackleton that i mentioned on Friday and have now finished. I also picked up the new Marian Keyes because it was a Kindle deal on Sunday. Apart from that, I’ve been very restrained!

Bonus photo: two bonuses this week – here’s me and my friends out playing mini golf on Tuesday – swipe through to see me celebrating and possible the best photo of me in half a decade. And then check out the flowers I got at the school I visited as a speaker at their careers day on Friday!

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: October 10 – October 16

Well I’m making some progress on some of the long runners, but the first week back from holiday has been a super busy one. But it always is. And I don’t think this week coming is going to be any calmer. But we will see.

Read:

April Lady by Georgette Heyer

Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Montcrieff*

A Pocketful of Happiness by Richard E Grant

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone*

A Dancer from the Abbey by Elsie J Oxenham

Fangirl Vol 2 by Rainbow Rowell and Sam Maggs

Started:

Death in the Tunnel by Miles Burton

The Empire by Michael Ball*

Still reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatio Sancho by Paterson Joseph*

Did I buy anything this week? I don’t think I did. So that’s something right?

Bonus photo: back on my walk through Fitzroy Square after the holiday!

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: October 3 – October 9

We’ve been on holiday! This is a slightly shorter list than usual for a holiday week, but to be honest I was so beaten down by September that I slept a lot when we weren’t sightseeing. I did however get a few of those long running books finished and made progress on a few more.

Read:

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Godemersham Park by Gill Hornby*

I Choose Darkness by Jenny Lawson

Treacherous is the Night by Anna Lee Huber

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

Another Time, Another Place by Jodi Taylor

A Decline in Prophets by Sulari Gentill

Started:

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatio Sancho by Paterson Joseph*

A Pocketful of Happiness by Richard E Grant

Still reading:

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

Just the one ebook purchase from my sun lounger!

Bonus photo: beautiful Sicily. What else could it be.

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: September 26 – October 2

Another hectic week. I’m working on that huge ongoing list and I will get there eventually. If only so many of them weren’t hardbacks! Still at least September is over. Please, please, please can October be a better month. Please.

Read:

Dead Room Face by Simon Brett

The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger

To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear

A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

The Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie

The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear

A Visible Man by Edward Enninful*

Started:

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Still reading:

Godemersham Park by Gill Hornby*

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Another Time, Another Place by Jodi Taylor

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Yeah – at least six. But I’m not counting. I deserve a treat.

Bonus photo: I feel like my empty pill packets for the antivirals make a good metaphor for how empty I feel after September!

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats

September Stats

Books read this month: 23*

New books: 18

Re-reads: 4 (3 audiobooks, 1 books)

Books from the to-read pile: 6

NetGalley books read: 4

Kindle Unlimited read: 4

Ebooks: 5

Library books: 0

Audiobooks: 3

Non-fiction books: 1

Favourite book this month: Hard to tell – either one of the Cat Sebastians or Love on the Brain.

Most read author: Cat Sebastian probably – with the two London Highwaymen novels

Books bought: a few. Honestly it was mostly going OK until the shingles set in. And then it all went downhill

Books read in 2022: 286

Books on the Goodreads to-read shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 654

September has been quite something. Probably the biggest story that I will ever cover made half the month insanely busy at work and then I had shingles. And the reading list reflects that.

Bonus picture: me and my ice pack at peak shingles.

*Usually includes some short stories/novellas/comics/graphic novels – although this month it doesn’t!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: September 19 – September 25

I have shingles. It’s horrid. If I thought my concentration was shot before, it is even worse now. I’ve basically been sleeping and watching easy to understand TV – or rewatching old favourites like Howl’s Moving Castle, the Joan Hickson Miss Marples and the Inspector Alleyns from a couple of years later. September has really been a doozie – only five more days to get through. I do hope that October is a better month.

Read:

Murder by the Book ed. Martin Edwards

A Step so Grave by Catriona MacPherson

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Started:

N/a

Still reading:

Godemersham Park by Gill Hornby*

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Another Time, Another Place by Jodi Taylor

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

A few impulse buys while my will power was low. But really who can blame me.

Bonus photo: I haven’t left the house all week. Well except to go into the back garden. So maybe I should more accurately be I haven’t passed the front door? Anyway, that means that this week’s picture is of my house plants. In honour of the retirement of the Goat and my favourite ever tennis player, this is Roger the Swiss Cheese plant.

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week in Books: September 12 – September 18

Yeah. It’s been another one of those weeks. Work has been crazy busy, I’m exhausted and some impulse purchasing may have taken place. 2022 is really proving to be quite something.

Read:

Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan

Marple: Twelve New Stories by Various authors based on Agatha Christie’s character

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall

Death and the Brewery Queen by Frances Brody

Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews

Coq au Vin by Charlotte Carter

Bats in the Belfry by E C R Lorac

Started:

A Step so Grave by Catriona MacPherson

Still reading:

Godemersham Park by Gill Hornby*

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Another Time, Another Place by Jodi Taylor

Going With the Boys by Judith Mackrell

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra*

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Inverts by Crystal Jeans

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

One book in Waterstones Piccadilly, a couple more from Amazon and two preorders appeared too. I said the restraint wouldn’t last!

Bonus photo: a little mews near where I was staying last week. Charming.

An * next to a book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.