Writing Goals
1000 words written on 'The Silver Darling'
'What Next, Max?' published
Intern position filled for Castle Priory Press
Reading Goals
2/30 library books (5 left)
2023 kindle list complete. Reading books added in 2024 now
0/15 bookshelf books (4 left)
1/3 books to buy read (2 left)
July has been a pretty busy month - the first half of the month was spent doing paid word and then a week of combining paid work and CPP work was followed by a week of swapping over our boys' bedrooms. Nevertheless, I was delighted to get a little bit of writing done, as well as interviewing and appointing our first ever intern for CPP. I also managed to get a little bit of sewing done, so this month I definitely feel as though I've been putting into practice the lessons learnt from 'What You Need Is In The Library'. It's also been a lesson in not allowing yourself to get overwhelmed by what feels like an interminable 'to do' list. Before we went away on our mini-break to Cornwall, it felt as though my list of things I needed to was never-ending. I dutifully wrote everything down and spent 4 days relentlessly working my way through it. It was hard work but eventually I'd whittled it down to a handful of things and before I knew it, I'd ticked off everything I needed to do, including tasks I'd expected to have to complete on holiday. Consequently, I was able to set off on the train with only nice things to do - yes, it still included work, but editing when it's for a book you are publishing never feels quite as bad as editing your own work! While we were away, I even managed to get a few books read and reviews written!
Book Reviews
Children's/Young Adult
The Sword in the Stone – T H White (I wasn’t massively enamoured with the Disney film based on this and whilst I have to admit that the book was significantly better than the film – when is it not? – I still didn’t find the book particularly appealing. There were bits of it I enjoyed, but overall, not so much. I’d expected to really enjoy it having been told it was a classic, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.)
Keedie – Elle McNicol (Prequel to ‘A Kind Of Spark’ and just as amazing. This tells Keedie’s story, giving background to why she is so protective of Addie in the first book. She is a good person, who doubts herself because others cannot see the world the way she does. The bullying plot really struck a chord with me – as a teacher I know many who delude themselves that bullies have no place in their school. Unfortunately, they exist everywhere, not just in schools and often it is only when people fight back that the extent of their suffering is revealed.)
Contemporary
Strange Sally Diamond – Liz Nugent (Book Group Pick. I went into this with high hopes as so many of the early starters had said they were really enjoying it. At first, it absolutely lived up to expectations, but I was left feeling disappointed by the ending. Whilst it felt as though it was probably true to reality, I felt it was a rushed ending having spent the whole book building towards it and then within a couple of pages everything was sort of tied up, but not really, and then just left.)
Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata (Not everyone knows how to ‘belong’ in society. Keiko struggles to fit in and has perfected the art of copying people’s behaviour in a bid to appear ‘normal’ but it’s just not her. She knows who she is – she is a convenience store worker and a good one. Beautiful story about how ‘normal’ life isn’t for everyone and sometimes people just have to accept their family and friends for who they are.)
Romance
The Treehouse of Dreams – KT Dady (Pepper Bay series. Read for Review. Always enjoy this series and this was no different. Full review to follow on 2nd August.)
Historical
The Ghost Ship – Kate Mosse (I’d put off reading this for ages because I thought it was a standalone book and I was waiting for the 3rd in the Joubert-Reydon series. Then I actually read the blurb and reaised it was in fact the book I’d been waiting for. D’oh! This one moves forward in time quite significantly and is actually centred around Minou’s granddaughter, Louise. I enjoyed the book and the ending perfectly sets up the next book, which I am now impatiently waiting for!)
Shy Creatures – Clare Chambers (Read for review. Interesting story inspired by a real life event and a classic Chambers book – full of character with extremely flawed protagonists, who make you love them regardless. Full review to follow on 12th August.)
Crime
A Corpse In Christmas Close – Michelle Salter (Latest Iris Woodmore book. Read for Review. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend the series to anyone who likes cosy crime. Full review to follow on 27th August.)
Murder In Williamstown - Kerry Greenwood (Latest Phryne Fisher instalment. I’ve been saving this to read when I was a bit more relaxed, so it was nice to sit in the sun and chill for a while as I read it. I love this series, so it's always a treat to start the newest book.)
Fantasy
The Cat Who Saved Books – Strange tale about a cat on a mission to save books from various people, including a book hoarder and a publisher who claims to hate books. In the process of saving the books, he also allows the protagonist to come out of his shell and decide on the kind of person he wants to be.
Literary
Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts (Audiobook. This was an interesting one. I got into it fairly quickly, even though I wasn’t particularly keen on the narrator – the book one, the audio narrator was excellent! However, in the middle I lost interest and would probably have given up on it, had it not been for a friend who had read it previously, telling me that it was worth persevering with. I’m glad she did and I’m glad I stuck with it, because after the dip in the middle, it picked up again and by the end of the book I’d warmed to him a little bit, but had definitely enjoyed the book overall.)
Book of the Month?
Much as I love Phryne, I think it has to be 'Keedie' which takes the title this month. I loved this family when I met them in 'A Kind of Spark' and this is a masterful follow up, filling in some of the gaps from before we met Addie. I loved every minute of it.
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