Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.
Hello!
My plan to buy less books in 2025 is really not going well so far. There are just so many good books out there!
My two latest purchases are:
Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll is a book I spotted on Bookstagram and really liked the look of so I popped it on preorder and it arrived this week. I really hope it won’t disappoint.
The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon is purely because I want the set all in hard back. I hate having a mix of hard backs and paperbacks in a series. It really upsets my OCD!
My chosen poem today is by the American poet, essayist and journalist Walt Whitman (1819-1892).
To a Stranger
Passing stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you, You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me as of a dream,) I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you, All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured, You grew up with me, were a boy with me or a girl with me, I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become not yours only nor left my body mine only, You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass, you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return, I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you when I sit alone or wake at night alone, I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again, I am to see to it that I do not lose you.
My chosen quote this week is by the Russian-born American writer and philosopher Alice O’Connor (1905-1982). Alice O’Connor was better known by her pen name Ayn Rand.
“Why do they always teach us that it’s easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves? It’s the hardest thing in the world–to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. I mean, what we really want.”
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a wonderful day of walking, reading and dining out. I am doing quite well with my reading currently and I am averaging a book a week which is much better than how I was doing last year.
What I am Currently Reading
I am very close to finishing this now and I have really enjoyed it so far.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I have finally finished this as my buddy read and thoroughly enjoyed it as did my friend. My review will be arriving soon.
What I Think I will Read Next
I really want to finish at least two more books before the end of the month so I will probably choose a shorter book.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
I love the topic for this week as 2025 is the year I wanted to make an effort to reread some of my favourite books. Last year I didn’t really do any rereads and I missed it because rereading a favourite book is like sitting down for a chat with an old friend.
So here are my planned rereads for 2025.
I really want to reread more of the Discworld novels this year and I thought I would start with the City Watch books. I spent one year reading all the Discworld books in order of publication so this time I think I will read them in the groups.
I am absolutely obsessed with Tolkien and have read The Lord of the Rings many many times and I feel like it is time for a reread of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The Three Musketeers and Agnes Grey are two books that I have also read many many times and feel like a reread is needed.
What 5 books are you planning on rereading in 2025?
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Hello!
I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I have had a good day catching up on some jobs in the garden and getting Etsy orders sent out.
My chosen book to feature off my Goodreads TBR this week is one from one of my favourite authors, Alison Weir.
Henry VIII The Heart and the Crown by Alison Weir
Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. He had all the qualities to make a triumph of his rule, yet we remember only the violence. Henry famously broke with the Pope, founding the Church of England and launching a religious revolution that divided his kingdom. He beheaded two of his wives and cast aside two others. He died a suspicious, obese, disease-riddled tyrant, old before his time. His reign is remembered as one of dangerous intrigue and bloodshed—and yet the truth is far more complex.
The King’s Pleasure brings to life the idealistic monarch who expanded Parliament, founded the Royal Navy, modernised medical training, composed music and poetry, and patronized the arts. A passionate man in search of true love, he was stymied by the imperative to produce a male heir, as much a victim of circumstance as his unhappy wives. Had fate been kinder to him, the history of England would have been very different.
Here is the story of the private man. To his contemporaries, he was a great king, a legend in his own lifetime. And he left an extraordinary legacy—a modern Britain.
I hope everyone has had a nice weekend so far. I haven’t done very well with blogging or reading this week but I am hoping to do better next week as I am on half term and have no teaching.
Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have managed some lovely reading today and I am very close to finishing my first buddy read of the year.
I had one book arrive this week which was a book that I preordered last year. I love getting preordered books because I forget that I order the books and it is always a nice surprise when they arrive in the post. It is just like a surprise gift to myself!
My new book this week is by an auto buy author for me.
This is definitely going to the top of my TBR pile!
My chosen poem this week is by a new poet for me. James Fenton (1949) is an English poet, journalist and literary critic.
Hinterhof
Stay near to me and I'll stay near to you - As near as you are dear to me will do, Near as the rainbow to the rain, The west wind to the windowpane, As fire to the hearth, as dawn to dew.
Stay true to me and I'll stay true to you - As true as you are new to me will do, New as the rainbow in the spray, Utterly new in every way, New in the way that what you say is true.
Stay near to me, stay true to me. I'll stay As near, as true to you as heart could pray. Heart never hoped that one might be Half of the things you are to me - The dawn, the fire, the rainbow and the day.
I thought it was time for an Etsy update because I have been quite busy recently adding new products. I love my little shop and one of my aims for 2025 is to really build it up and add more products.
I love making new bookmarks for the shop but I must admit I do end up wanting them all for myself and have to resist because I will end up with way too many. I am like a magpie for shiny pretty bookmarks!
The Cake Cards have just landed in the shop over the last few days. I have made a few for private orders so I thought I would add them to my Etsy shop.
TBR Prompts
I have also done my first digital download in the shop which is TBR Prompts that you just download, print off and cut out all from your home. They are also currently on offer!
I am always struggling to work out what to read next so I came up with the prompts to help myself and decided to add them to my shop as well. I also still have the very popular book shaped TBR Tickets available in the shop.
Lady Book Dragon 