I’m fairly sure you were all devastated that I missed last week’s reading check-in. I’m sorry I ruined your Christmas and left you feeling unfulfilled and wanting… but you’ll be relieved to know I’m playing catch-up this week. 😉

What I’ve been reading

Frances Whiting’s coming of age story, Walking on Trampolines.

Jane Green’s single-white-female themed thriller, Saving Grace. 

Tami Hoag’s Cold Cold Heart  about a young woman who’s survived a serial killer (but lost most of her memories) grappling with a traumatic event from her past.

Lisa Unger’s Crazy Love You  – about love (obviously), obsession and being screwed over in childhood.

Interestingly there’s been a bit of a mental health / illness theme in my reading of late (not to mention the childhood angst stuff which is increasingly common!). It’s coincidence obviously (given my reading is generally sorted solely by publication date), but also great that mainstream novels are touching on such important issues.

Blog posts published

In a mammoth effort I ended up catching up on some of my book reviews / blog posts (link in title).

Mette Ivie Harrison’s The Bishop’s Wife – a mystery set within a Mormon community

Christobel Kent’s The Crooked House – a young woman’s attempt to understand events leading to a childhood tragedy

Jane Green’s Saving Grace  – which I enjoyed less than I expected

Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train – described as Gone Girl  meets Rear Window

And I reviewed Walking on Trampolines  in Goodreads only.

In non-book-related stuff, I pondered on the idea of a writing mentor in 2015; I noted that my seachange HAD actually resulted in me changing for the better; and I moaned about having to make grown-up decisions… particularly as they relate to money and spending.

Other stuff

I’m in the midst of a two-week holiday. I only work part-time but this is the first break I’ve had since last Christmas. My mother and I travelled to Brisbane for a week (for my SIL’s 50th birthday celebrations and Christmas), returning to our respective homes on Boxing Day.

It was my birthday yesterday so there were some celebrations – though I remain in denial about my actual age. I received a voucher for an electronics store so splurged on some DVDs after a long budgetary-enforced hiatus. I’ve seen S1 of The Newsroom  and Continuum  and enjoyed both, but I’ve heard good things about Orphan Black  as well.

Upcoming reading

As for this week’s weekly reading list, I’m starting with Elizabeth Harrower’s In Certain Circles,  which is set in Sydney and is described as a ‘psychological drama about family and love, tyranny and freedom’. So… what’s not to love really?!

And then I’m keen to read How to Make a Friend  by Fleur Smithwick. The title alone is enough to catch my attention but the notion of a childhood imaginary friend making a reappearance many years later is tempting. I’m assuming similarities to the movie Drop Dead Fred  will be minimal. 🙂

I may get to SJ Watson’s Second Life  as well – but I don’t want to be overly ambitious. “Better to overachieve than fail,” that’s my motto!

What’s on your agenda, reading or otherwise this week?
If you’re on holidays I hope you’re having a great (&/or) restful time!

As it’s Monday I’m linking with Sheila from Book Journey today!