Yesterday we looked at my professional and reading aloud brains, today I shall proceed to enthrall you all with my comfort reading and curiosity brains.
Comfort reading brain – I only have four titles to divulge; the first of which is a proof copy of Rose Edward’s The Harm Tree which was very kindly sent to me by the publisher. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this one as it looks like my kind of read! It promises an ‘Epic YA Fantasy’ and that is music to my ears. I will report back in another post whether it lives up to its claim but I have high hopes.
Next up is a book that I am planning on devouring as soon as I have a free couple of hours – Sky In The Deep by Adrienne Young. I really don’t think you need any more information than this, from the back cover:
“Part Wonder Woman, part Vikings – And All Heart”
I am also listening to two audio books at the moment, greedy I know! All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White. Not technically ‘on’ my desk but my phone is near, so I think they count.
At last we have come to my curiosity brain, what wonders I have to share! Often my choices here are Non Fiction based, reading up about Norse Gods or Ley lines for example, but every now and again some fiction makes itself known and I branch out.
My first book is one that if you have encountered me in the past week you will know that I am quite passionate about! I have a lifelong interest in Mother Russia and The Soviet 
Union so will often pick up a related text and read for pleasure. I recently saw Chernobyl History of a Tragedy by Serhii Plokhy and knew that it was destined for me. Thus far I have been awed, horrified, amazed and altogether fascinated so am as happy as can be! I was hooked right from the preface when the author explained how this book had come about and why he was writing it. I have learnt so much just from the first few chapters and thoroughly recommend this to anyone and everyone.
My next choice is one of those books that has been referenced soooooooooooooooooo many times that I feel Like I have already read it and yet, I have not. I decided the time was right for me to actually see what the fuss was about so I am going to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. Will I enjoy it? I don’t know, I guess if I feel the need to write a review in the future that will be my answer.
Now for one of those fiction books of which I spoke – I saw this one in a crate ready for delivery in Library Stock Services and was intrigued. I think it was the title – Little Man, What Now? Hans Fallada is not an author I am familiar with and I fear this may be remiss of me, but all I can do is read.
“The novel that made Hans Fallada famous, Little Man, What Now? was published just before Hitler came to power and remains a haunting portrayal of innocents whose world is about to be swept away forever.”
This is fiction in translation, something I think we could all do with reading more of – there’s a whole world out there! There is a really interesting note on the inside re: the translation and the names and this in itself is fascinating.
Lastly I am reading Anna and The Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit:
Krakow 1939.
A million marching soldiers and a thousand barking dogs.
This is no place to grow up.
Thus far, I am entranced. The way in which Anna understands the world, the way she associates languages with people is beautiful. Whether we can retain this beauty through such a heartbreaking landscape remains to be seen but this is sure to be a book that stays with me.
I think I found this book when I was researching ‘must read’ young adult fiction and was intrigued by the premise. It has a distinctly sinister sounding vibe which I think maybe a little misleading but not in a bad way!
You can listen to this on BorrowBox as well, if you prefer.
We have reached the end. That is a fairly faithful recounting of all the books in my very near vicinity.
Have you been tempted by anything I am reading? Do you think that you have multiple reading brains too?
Let me know if you read any of these whether you would recommend. Of all my choices I bet you’re most sceptical of Chernobyl, aren’t you? Well I challenge you all to read it and report back. It is so interesting. Really. Read it.
Stephanie.
Warwickshire Libraries 