It’s been an epic reading week, so bear with me here.

I finished off Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett on Saturday morning. I’ve posted separately about this so I won’t go on about it here too much, but overall I enjoyed it.

I then read the entirety of The Martian, by Andy Weir through the weekend. I’d seen the movie already, and it seems like it was pretty true to the source material so it was an easy read. Great book, would recommend.

I started War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells last night and am about 20% through. Im thoroughly enjoying it so far. I’ve read very little sci-if that’s not based in either a modern or futuristic world, so having something set so long ago is interesting in itself.

My plan is the get into the Witcher series later this week as I picked up the whole series on kindle for cheap this weekend. I’ve already read The Last Wish, so will be starting with The Sword of Destiny, by Andrzej Sapkowski. I’m very excited as I loved the Witcher games as well as the first short story book.

Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

Loved it; the quickest I've gotten through a book that long in some time. I might even go ambitious again with my next one.

I finished The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett which I enjoyed immensely! I'll wait awhile before reading the next book, but I'm hoping it's just as good.

I started Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day by Peter Ackroyd. Ackroyd is all over the damn place and is chucking in latin and french with no translations. It doesn't feel cohesive at all. If my bookshop won't let me return it I'll persevere, but hopefully I can swap it...

Next up was Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. Easy 5/5 for me. I breezed through this, and enjoyed seeing the world (and the shop!) through the eyes of Keiko.

My current read is Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman. I've seen the Keira Knightley film, so I'm excited to get into this biography and really see how Georgiana was as a person.

I finished The Idiot, by Elif Batuman and it might be my new favorite book. I definitely can see why it’s not for everyone, but I feel like it was tailor-made for my personal tastes. Absolutely stunning.

Currently reading The Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra which is beautifully written.

Just started The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett and I’m barely in so I’m not sure I even have an opinion yet, other than I hope it’s a worthwhile undertaking, since it’s huge.

This week I read a children's classic I never picked up as a kid! The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was alright - lots of blathering about the importance of fresh air and bread.

I also read Fifty Shades of Feminism edited by Lisa Appignanesi, Rachel Holmes and Susie Orbach. Each 'chapter' was a few pages written by a different women. There were some fascinating perspectives in there! Got me thinking.

My current read is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I'm 100 pages in and super weirded out by Tom and Ellen, but very interested in monk Phil! Really enjoying it so far.

Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett I didn't excpect this to be as interesting as I found it, will pick up the continuations for sure

I'm halfway through The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett. Enjoyable story. I've been reading a fair bit of sci-fi/fantasy lately, and it's refreshing that there's no magic or spaceships in this one.

started Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett over the weekend. Kept hearing that it was good, but it always sounded boring. About 25% done, loving it so far.

I have started reading The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett. I am about 300 pages in and thoroughly enjoying it. Despite being a massive book it's an easy read and I am getting through it at roughly 100 pages a day.

I am also listening too The Third Day, The Frost, by John Marsden which is the 3rd book in the tomorrow series.

Last week I finished reading Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood. It is a re-read of my favourite book and enjoyed it just as much this time.

And I finished listening too The Dead of the Night, by John Marsden the second book in the Tomorrow series

Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

I really liked this and think the idea to make a plot around building a cathedral was a good idea. It certainly felt like an appropriate book to be reading when the Notre-Dame-de-Paris fire happened. I've now started this free online Age of Cathedrals class to learn more: https://www.coursera.org/learn/age-of-cathedrals. And then I'm going to watch the show/mini series and play the point and click game.

I previously got into this time period (1100s) after reading The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy, which is about Eleanor of Aquitaine (wife of Henry II of England).

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America, by Russell Shorto

Now I'm reading this. I read the first part, mainly covering Henry Hudson's expeditions, about 2 years ago but had to put it down to read some other things for work.

I just finished Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett for the second time. I read it about 10 years ago in high school and absolutely adored it. Rereading it now was like reading the whole book again for the first time aside from a few key plot points.

I finished The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett and surprisingly wanted more even after 997 pages then started in on World Without End, by Ken Follett the second in the Kingsbridge Trilogy

The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet: absolutely phenomenal. The world feels so large and real (I’m aware it’s historical fiction, but still, it feels like I’m apart of it), and as a result I’ve gotten so immersed and invested into the stories, characters, and the world, that I can barely put it down. I certainly plan to read the sequels (I know they’re not really connected, but I like Ken Follet’s storytelling and writing). I highly recommend it, though it definitely portrays (explicitly) how despicable some people can be, so it’s worth knowing that it contains disturbing themes of just about every nature. Not a light read, but well worth it.

Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie: honestly pretty disappointed, given her reputation. it just doesn’t feel like it has much life in it. I also have a hard time keeping up when too many characters are dropped at the same time— in this case all back to back, with descriptions of personality and appearance. I’m also not a fan of her method of relaying information to the reader, it feels almost expository. I’ll still probably finish it, but so far I’m not particularly satisfied.

Both I began this week.

Finished: Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett It's probably not the greatest book I've ever read, but I enjoyed it from start to finish. I learned a lot in reading it, too.

Started: The Speed of Sound, by Eric Bernt I'm about 40% through it. The writing is kind of meh, but the story is thoughtful, exciting, and entertaining.

Currently reading:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - I have about 200 pages to go. I have flown through it considering the size of it and thoroughly enjoyed it so far.

Darkness, be my Friend by John Marsden I am listening to this on audiobook and about 70% done.

Finished:

Third Day, The Frost by John Marsden audiobook of the 3rd in the Tomorrow series.

I haven't finished it yet, but still in the grip of The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I'm absolutely hooked - I have no clue what half the cathedral plans mean but I'm loving it anyway. William Hamleigh may be one of my most hated characters of all time!

After the Wall, by Jana Hensel

As a student of history, I rarely get to read something as juicy and exciting as this. Hensel was 13 when the Berlin Wall fell, and she remarks that this is the "end of her childhood". The book itself is really short, but she's very detailed in how her childhood was different than her colleagues that she interacts with ten years later. It's translated, which excuses some of the simple English, but it's opened my eyes to how the East looked to a child/teenager during those pivotal years.

I picked up Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett, and I'm really excited to finally read that colossal work. I'm going to try and be really active on this sub this summer, and I want to read as much as possible!

Pillars of The Earth, by Ken Follett

It's incredible so far.

I finished:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, loved this book.

Darkness, Be My Friend by John Marsden (audiobook).

I am currently reading:

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith & Burning for Revenge by John Marsden (audiobook)

Started The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

I'm into Chapter 2 (the chapters are long) and enjoying it very much.

Finished Fantasy in Death, by J. D. Robb

Just starting Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett