Happy Sunday! I hope everyone’s had a good first week to the New Year. I’m back blogging after a much needed break from day-to-day life. I had time off work, slept late, read more, and ate way too much chocolate. It was hard getting back into the swing of things this week, though I have sort-of managed (it helps it was a three-day week for me).
And, while I’m not much of a one for new years resolutions, I am going to try and find a better balance between work and life in 2022 – I don’t think I realised how much I had been working until I stopped but my brain didn’t for at least the first few days after my holidays started.
This Week on the Blog
This week, I wrote two reviews. Neither were for books I would recommend unfortunately.
While both books were very different, the thing they had in common was the thing I didn’t like about them. They were confusing, unsure about what they wanted to be, and their central characters were all unlikeable. I found both hard going.
Thankfully my next read (which I’ll review this week), was much better – The Raptures by Jan Carson.
When several children from the same village start succumbing to a mysterious illness, the quest to discover the cause has devastating and extraordinary consequences.
It is late June in Ballylack. Hannah Adger anticipates eight long weeks’ reprieve from school, but when her classmate Ross succumbs to a violent and mysterious illness, it marks the beginning of a summer like no other.
As others fall ill, questions about what – or who – is responsible pitch the village into conflict and fearful disarray. Hannah is haunted by guilt as she remains healthy while her friends are struck down. Isolated and afraid, she prays for help.
Elsewhere in the village, tempers simmer, panic escalates and long-buried secrets threaten to emerge.
Hopefully my good luck will continue as I start to crack the spine on the books I got for Christmas and my latest library haul. How has your week – reading and otherwise?
Emma x
Joining in with the Sunday Post and Kimberly, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
One Readers Thoughts 
Welcome back to blogging! I am curious about The Raptures.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog. I love your new look here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you….I am messing with a few new headers. New year, new look 😀
LikeLike
Enjoy your week Emma. I always feel I need a week to ease back into blogging after a break. Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.wordpress.com/2022/01/09/the-sunday-post-1-9-22/.
LikeLike
Thanks. It is definitely an easy week back. Hopefully I will be more energised this week. 🤞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome back. I am getting back to blogging after a longer break as well, and I am hoping it sticks! Have great week ahead.
LikeLike
Thank you. I think a break reinvigorates so here’s hoping we are both back on track 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed that your next read is a better one, Emma:). And best of luck with getting your work/life balance better – I think it’s a challenge for many of us.
LikeLike
Thank you. Work / life balance seems to have gotten harder during pandemic, though to be fair it’s always something I’ve struggled with. Just less willing to accept it now. Have a good week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Emma. I think a lot of people are feeling that way now. Perhaps that is one of the good things to come out of this whole miserable business.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad you were able to take some relaxing time off. I am sorry your recent reading was disappointing. Hopefully you are reading something much more to your liking now. The Raptures does sound good! I hope you have a great week and happy reading!
LikeLike
Me too! I really needed a break. Now I just need some more good reads!
LikeLike
I was slow as molasses this week except for reading which went well. I hope we will both have better energy for the week ahead.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
LikeLike
Glad it wasn’t just me. So far, Monday is going slow (but suppose it’s still early 😀)
LikeLike
The Raptures sounds quite intriguing. I hope you get some other great books this month.
https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/09/sunday-post-48-1-8-2022/
LikeLike
It was. Not sure I will do it justice in my review. I am hoping it’s the start of a trend 😀
LikeLike
It can be hard to find that balance, for sure. And The Raptures sounds like an interesting one.
Hope you’ve had a nice weekend, and have a great week ahead!
LikeLike
It really can. The Raptures was really good but I’m struggling to describe in a review…have a feeling I won’t capture it well at the rate I’m going.
LikeLike
[…] this weeks reviews are much more positive than last weeks. First up was The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas, who is one of my favourite authors. This was a […]
LikeLike