Morning everyone, hope you are having a good weekend. Mine was a long one as I was off Friday (meaning a four day work week as well – yay!). My mom and I went on a much delayed trip to York for shopping and then afternoon tea at Betty’s – one of my favourite places for cake on the planet. We finished it off with a glass of champagne and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was lovely to have a “me” day, especially as yesterday was definitely a “her” day due to children’s birthday parties and play dates and bedroom painting today. I was exhausted by the end, though the little one was still going strong (probably due to the amount of sugar she’d consumed!).
My day out Friday and an incredibly busy week running up to it meant I didn’t post on the day, though I did have posts scheduled for the rest of the week so I didn’t disappear completely from my online world. Here’s what I posted…
On Monday was my review of a much belated read – Evil Games by Angela Marsons. I had loved the first book in this series staring DI Kim Stone but never gotten round to reading the second. Until now and I am very glad I did but also slightly annoyed at myself for having waited so long because it was brilliant. Kim Stone is a great character but the plot was so clever and the whole book so well written. I really enjoyed this one.
On Tuesday I introduced by latest read – Human Acts by Han Kang. I loved Kang’s The Vegetarian, which I read last January and has stayed with me as one of my best books of the year and possibly favourite books ever read despite it’s dark themes. Human Acts sounds like it will be just as dark and I have put off reading it now till this week as I wanted to concentrate and I couldn’t do that sat on trains. I have high hopes for it when I start reading Tuesday.
On Wednesday I reviewed Perfect Remains by Helen Fields, another excellent read – especially as it was a debut novel. Like Evil Games the “bad guy” here was a brilliant psychopath, one who was focused on their end goal and determined not to be caught. Set in Edinburgh with a French detective this was a real page turner and kept me up well into the night.
On Thursday I reviewed Unlocking Italian with Paul Noble, which I was lucky enough to win a copy of and helped me get over my fear of speaking a language I can read and understand. I’m not sure anything will stick but it will definitely be brought out again if I get my much longed for trip to Rome later this year.
As I said I didn’t post anything Friday but I did pick up a few books I’ve had my eye on (links to goodreads)…
Escape is the only Arc as I have quite few review books now to read and I don’t like to have too many on the go – I aim for one review book a week tops but a lot seem to be coming out in one go so I have called a halt to requests till I catch up.
And that’s it for this week. What about yours? How has it gone, what have you read?
Emma
One Readers Thoughts 
Haha, I wish I had the self control for just 1 ARC! *never gonna happen* lol
Interested in that other Han Kang book, although I haven’t read The Vegetarian myself yet (a bit squeamish about but the whole darkness thing)
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I have to practice self control or I would drown in ARCs. The Vegetarian is dark but sooooo good.
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You are right, I am legitimately drowning in ARCs 😀
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Oh your day with your mother sounds fab:). A long week-end is always a nice feeling, isn’t it? I’ve heard a lot of good things about The Vegetarian – but it also sounds very dark, so I’m swithering a bit. Perhaps when the weather and light levels get better, I’ll consider it. Have a good week, Emma:). My Sunday Post – https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/sunday-post-26th-february-2017/
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It was lovely, the Vegetarian is very dark but so brilliantly written I can’t recommend it enough.
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Thanks for that… I’m definitely going to wait until the summer before I read it.
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How lucky you are to be able to read and understand Italian! I hope you can get into the speaking part as well. I’ve been trying to learn German but I keep getting distracted and spending long periods not doing anything…which does not work well in the language department.
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I hope I can get it down eventually. Maybe when I’m old and retired. German is supposed to be hard but I’ve never tried it.
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Sounds like a lovely week!
Enjoy your books…I loved The Passenger and What She Knew. I tried starting You a while ago and hated Joe so much that I set it aside. Who knows? Maybe I will pick it up again someday.
Have a great week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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It very much was. You has me hooked so far. Joe is sick though I agree.
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I love going to tea (though we have few options where I live in the States) and it sounds like you had a wonderful time with your mom.
I hope you get the opportunity to go to Rome and try speaking Italian with the locals 🙂 Rome is on my bucket list but I don’t really know the language.
I have heard good things about What She Knew. I don’t read much suspense but I have seen the explosion in popularity of psychological suspense after Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Hope you enjoy your books and have a great week!
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No I think it’s very much an English thing, though we don’t do it nearly often enough. I hope What She Knew is good. The reviews suggested it was but I always feel nervous about books that say they are the next Gone Girl.
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Sounds like you had some fun me time along with some tiring her time…lol. You got some great books to read and I have been curious about You and The Passenger!
Stormi
Week in Review
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It really was. You is shaping up really nicely if very creepy.
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Tea, cakes, and champagne sound delightful! Enjoy You and the Passenger. I enjoyed both.
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It was. I felt very sophisticated and grown up.
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At least you had a day of rest and ‘me time’ before you launched into an exhausting weekend. I am thrilled to have a copy of The Escape to read too.
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It was a lovely day, the type of thing I should do more often. I am really looking forward to The Escape.
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Sounds like busy and fun for you this week. Lots of good books too. I want to read The Passenger so bad.
My Sunday Post
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I really enjoyed your reviews this week and added both thrillers – especially Evil Games to my TBR. What She Knew looks really good and it is a book I’m hoping to read soon. Have a great week!
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Thank you…I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Have a good week too x
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Evil Games looks a little freaky but in a good way. 🙂 I liked The Passenger but didn’t love it, and The Escape looks good too!
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It was very creepy….just the way I like them!
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wow this blog is very interesting!!! please check out my blog too
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What a nice outing! Champagne and everything.
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It was lovely. A real treat. One to be repeated.
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Your day out on Friday sounds divine and my mouth waters and the thought of such delicious cake. May there be a few more days like that for you in the coming year.
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It was. I felt very spoilt!
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Looks like you had a positive week all round. I hope you enjoy your selection of books this week. I have What She Knew sitting waiting to be read on my TBR shelf. Enjoy!
Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews
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It was really good. Seems like a long time ago already!
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Wow, I am always impressed by people who are able to post so many reviews. Your me day sounds great. Here’s to more of those in the future.
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I wish I could post more. Some people I follow post more than once a day. My me day was lovely but after the last few days at work I feel like I need another! Thanks for stopping by.
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