My Weekly TBR Pile – 25.08.2014 – 31.08.14

Oh and another week has passed people. This happens to be my last week off work. Having been off for six whole months I think it is about time to get back into the swing of things, however, I am saddened that my reading time will be greatly diminished. Essentially that means I am never getting my NetGalley percentage any higher. Oh if only I had a job that would pay me to read all the lib-long day. That would be sweet.

Anywho, this past week I got through nearly all of my TBR pile. I am still working my way through Tony Fletcher’s Boy About Town. It is a good book but not a sit down narrative that makes you want to read on and on. It is more of a book that you dip into.

The books that I did complete this week include:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas

One Kick by Chelsea Cain (review to be posted 26.08.14)

I would like to have read more but ah, what are you gonna do?

Today I started reading my 99^th book of the year. Yes, I am one off the big 100. Here is the list of this week’s books that need to be read.

Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (Currently reading so I can indulge in the TV series and have copious conversations with my aunty who is desperate to talk about it.)

It Had to be You by Ellie Adams

The Mysterious Affair at Castaway House by Stephanie Lamb (This was on last week’s TBR list but I didn’t get through it, boo hiss)

And if I am really lucky with my time I will try and read

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

In other book related news, today a great thing happened. It is one of those rare occasions when all the stars are aligned. Today I perused my Amazon wish list and one of the books that I had on it was reduced by 100%. It was free baby! I love it when that happens.

Anywho, I hope you all have a great book week.

Ooh and if you have a chance this week make sure you check out the blogs of some very awesome people – Matt Phil Carver, Rachel Dewhurst and Clare over at A Book and Tea.

Review: Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas

Synopsis

Annie Howarth seems to have it all; loving husband, beautiful daughter and a house to be proud of but Annie also has a dirty not so secret past. She was once involved with a man accused of murder. And when her former lover, Tom Greenwood, is released from his 10 year prison sentence, Annie’s past comes back to haunt her.

Review

Firstly, I have to say that this book is extremely well written. Louise Douglas has captured a moment in history – the miner’s strike in Yorkshire during the 1980s with haunting accuracy. Her descriptions of the moors are both evocative and atmospheric. She cleverly toils with the thin line that separates right from wrong. Her overall style cannot be faulted.

However, I found that I could not empathise with her protagonist. Understandably, Annie Howarth was a victim of the actions of those around her; from her lover Tom Greenaway and how his actions led her to be left alone to the oppressive and overbearing nature of her policeman husband who smothered her. And whilst this character was layered with many complexities such as where her loyalties should lie – with her policeman husband during the miner’s riots, with her working class family who were striking or with Tom, the love of her life who she believes was wrongly accused all those years ago – I personally found it difficult to feel any sympathy for her situation.

As I have said, that is not to say that this isn’t a good, intriguing mystery that is written very well it just didn’t enthuse a love of character that I was expecting from Louise Douglas.

Your Beautiful Lies by Louise Douglas is available now.