The Reader's Dilema

As it turns out I didn't get nearly as much reading as I expected done in Florence. It's such a beautiful, and relaxed city that I couldn't help but get drawn into its cosy little world. Of the two books I did pack, I managed to finish off Cress, the third instalment of The Lunar Chronicles - as enjoyable as its predecessors - and get started on Time and Time Again by Ben Elton. This was a book that I've been wanting to read for a few months and it was well worth the wait. I've finished it off since I got home, and it's one book that I'd highly recommend.

Time and Time Again by Ben Elton

Upon getting home from Florence, I was met with a wonderful surprise. Just before I left for Italy, I purchased my first book from The Folio Society but their 28-day European delivery note meant that I wasn't expecting it to arrive so soon. I've mentioned before in this blog that I am a bit of a collector and this is a collection I'm very interested in investing in - there are already thirteen other Folio Society books on my wishlist, and I'm finding more titles that interest me on a near daily basis. By way of recording it for posterity, the first Folio Society book I purchased was The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick.

Folio Society edition of The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Lastly, with my holiday reads finally polished off, I found myself with that wonderful dilema: what to read next. Of course Winter is the obvious choice to finish off The Lunar Chronicles series, but I also need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor for my Science-Fiction & Fantasy book club. I mistakenly thought next Thursday was April 1st, and thus the night of our next meeting, so I got stuck into the book today. Turns out that I've two weeks to read it, and now I've committed to another series before finishing off The Lunar Chronicles. 

Choosing Holiday Reads

In just under a fortnight I’ll be spending a week in the historic city of Florence (Italy), which means I’m already thinking about which books I’ll be bringing with me. Of course I won’t be spending the whole time I’m there reading, but I have planned a few activities that allow ample reading time.

Of course netgalley.com has provided me with a tempting title, but The Divine Madness of Philip K. Dick doesn’t seem like the ideal holiday read. I am very interested in the book, after all I am a big science-fiction fan, and the topic of addiction is right down my alley, but it could put a dampener on the trip.

Fantasy is throwing up a few good options as well: I still have to finish off Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series. I’ve only read Cinder and Scarlet so far, and my order of Fairest arrived into my local book store earlier this week. Vicious by V.E. Schwab is also high on my reading list. I’ve recently finished A Gathering of Shadows (expect a review later this week) and I’m really in the mood to read more of her books. Finally, thanks to my girlfriend, I’m tempted to delve back into the works of Trudi Canavan and Kate Elliot. So many choices!

Should I steer away from comfort reads, I’ve also been tempted to read Felicia Day’s autobiography You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) and Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistle-blower, Spy, a book about Anonymous. So much choice for a guy hoping to pack light.