The anniversary of my redundancy came and went this week without me realising. It’s probably a good thing as I would have felt compelled to do some sort of ‘then and now’ post. Don’t get me wrong. Leaving the life I was leading before was the best thing I’ve ever done, but I still have some regrets—things I wish I’d done differently. But given there’s no chance of me returning to 2012, here we are… ready to talk books and reading. Again.

What I read

As planned I took some time away from reading this week though still managed to get through three books.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, which I actually read in fits and starts over the week. I described it elsewhere as akin to a series of furiously funny blog posts so it was easy to pick up in between other things. I don’t usually read during the day but this allowed me to read a chapter here and there without feeling guilty.

I finally read Cathy Kelly’s Between Sisters which had sat in my TBR pile for a loooooong time. And I read the new novel by Australian writer, Charlotte Wood, The Natural Way of Things.

What I wrote

I kicked off the week with a post about sometimes and everyday food—happy that future generations may in fact be learning about food in ways which doesn’t have the negative connotations of good vs bad. Or healthy vs junk.

I reviewed Jane Shemilt’s new release, The Drowning Lesson… about a family whose baby goes missing and the inevitable fallout.

I stumbled through my review of the beautifully written The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood, which I eloquently described as a mindf*ck. (And she tweeted her appreciation of my description!)

And finally I got around to posting my review of Sophie McKenzie’s latest release, Here We Lie.

It was also time to share my ‘five favourite reads of September’ on the popular Styling You website and I included Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly and Jenny Lawson’s Furiously Happy there and in Goodreads.

What I did

I binge-watched some TV. As planned I eventually got to season one of Wayward Pines, which I enjoyed…. despite its confusing start. Things became clear in episode five and then I couldn’t stop watching.

I also watched s1 of Falling Skies, which I’d heard of but really only borrowed from the DVD library because it was there.

For someone who refuses to read fantasy / dystopian / science fiction I sure do love watching it!  Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly are in my favourite shows of all time, but I also love(d) Continuum, Orphan Black, The 100, Fringe, Revolution, Wayward Pines and many many more.

What I plan to read

First book off the TBR pile this week will be Diane Chamberlain’s Pretending to Dance. This will be the first of her books I’ve read and I’m looking forward to it.

As I didn’t get to Elizabeth George’s Banquet of Consequences last week, it will be next on my list.

I’m also hoping to include a review I did of a children’s book (with a 4yr old accomplice). Dinosaur Dump is the latest from Tim Miller and Matt Stanton—creators of the fart monster.

And that’s about all of my exciting news. I had seven new books arrive in the mail last week and am yet to sort them chronologically and develop a plan of attack. But more on them next time, I’m sure.

What have you been up to this past week?
Any books or reading you can recommend?

As usually I’m participating in Kimberley’s Sunday Post and Sheila’s ‘It’s Monday!’ link ups.