LINK-UP | IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Oh wow, it’s been nearly a month since I’ve done one of these posts! Probably in part because I’ve taken up a new hyperfocus (crochet) and (re)discovered some fantastic British comedy shows (Very British Problems, Travel Man, QI and The Big Fat Quiz of Everything/The Year/The Decade etc) and have been doing nothing but watching those on YouTube for like two weeks. Oops. I’ve read a couple of books in the last month though, so let’s see what we have to share!

Just Shelved (in the past month, so, you know, not just)

    

Dirty Laundry came to my attention after I started watching the short videos featured on the YouTube channel ADHD Love and seeing interviews with Roxanne Emery (who has ADHD, late diagnosed) and her husband Richard Pink (who does not). I love their openness, their willingness to share, to learn about how to both deal with Roxanne’s ADHD in a positive way and how they’re changing the conversation about ADHD, particularly in women who weren’t diagnosed as kids. It’s like a balm for my soul. The book was very much like their channel, and a really quick and interesting read. 100% recommend. My Mess Is a Bit of a Life is a re-read – I read it back in the summer and it just felt like what I wanted to read today, so I did. Still fantastic.

Currently Reading

     

Sooo….. yeah. This hasn’t changed even at all. Here’s what I wrote last time, and it still very much applies:

“I have the audiobook for The Wonderful World of James Herriot as an audiobook from Netgalley, and it’s really enjoyable so far. It intersperses excerpts from Herriot’s beloved books with biographical and historical information surrounding each one. It talks about Herriot’s relationships with his community and colleagues, his rise to fame, and his love of working as a veterinarian, which he continued well past typical retirement age despite his literary success. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any of his work, but I’ve kept meaning to re-read his books. This is a great way to paddle my way back in. I’ve been meaning to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for ages (I’ve even started it at least once) because I’ve heard universally positive things about it. I also love neurodivergent representation in books because I think there needs to be more of it. So based on these factors, it should be a favourite for me. The problem I have is that, while I appreciate and understand it, the way it’s written is a bit challenging for me. Every piece of the story or bit of information is broken down and explained in excruciating detail because the first person narrator is autistic-coded. This is realistic, but not very fun to read for someone who is a different type of neurodivergent, and who gets bored easily and tends to have a mind that zooms ahead and just needs books that can keep up. This is why I listen to audiobooks at double speed, and this is why I tend to read more audiobooks than physical books – they’re faster and I can do other stuff while I’m reading. I have this as a physical book, so I’m thinking maybe I’ll try the audio so I can speed it up and multi-task and see if that makes it easier. That said, my own personal brain dynamics aside, I’m loving the character and I think I’ll like the story, though there hasn’t been that much yet. I’d love to hear from anyone else who has read this – did you struggle with the flow and pace or is it just me? If you did struggle, did it get easier the more you read as your brain adjusted to it?”

I’ve also added this one:

I’ve only just started it, but so far it seems intriguing, and in line with how my view on how important time spent in nature is to everyone over the past few years as I dealt with mental health issues and figuring out why I’m different from most people I know. I just moved to a house with a garden, and it has been like suddenly being home to be able to go out and put my hands in the dirt, to plant whatever seeds I want and see (some of) them grow. Even finding slugs and aphids and raccoons rooting around out there hasn’t felt like a bad thing. Though I could do without the repeat visits from a rather large black bear who seems intent on getting to our fish pond, though!

Up Next

     

Also, nearly the same. I have a galley of If You See Them through Netgalley. I’ve read a few pages. I need to get back to it and make more progress. Maybe I’ll really give it a serious push this week… or maybe, you know, not. Depends largely on how long QI keeps my interest, I’d guess! I also have an audiobook of Vanishing Fleece waiting for me, so that’s another possibility!

That’s my few weeks in reading. Not sure if it’s going to pick up – anytime between now and March my reading is variable and feels very much outside of my conscious ability to decide whether I’m going to read or not. So I’m as much waiting to see as you guys! What about you? What have you read recently? Have you read or do you want to read any of the books I’ve included?

A weekly post that encourages bloggers to share what they have read in the past week, what they’re currently reading and books they’ve recently added to their TBRs. Originally started by Sheila at Book Journey, it is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.