Jo’s Journal

In an effort to switch my attention from social media and all the continued world shenanigans that feed that attention, I’m going to try and drown myself in reading. I need to redress the balance, too much of my time is spent reading about stuff that worries me, makes me cross or provokes me. I have spent less time reading, than perhaps anytime in my life. So these books have recently been on my ‘table’ (in other words my Kindle), along with the odd cat or three 😉

I don’t offer reviews as such – that’s a conversation for another time – just the things that I took away from the experience. And if you have any recommendations of a good read, preferably by an Indie author, I’m all ears.

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss – I’m trying to read more fantasy books at the moment as I’m concentrating on developing my writing within that genre. So I’m reading to learn as well as enjoy. This author was recommended somewhere where I lurk on social media, so it isn’t always a bad thing! This story is about a boy’s journey from a childhood filled with sadness to becoming a gifted magician. It’s narrated by the main character to a scribe, so an interesting way to use flashbacks.

Daughter of Time by Sarah Woodbury – was also recommended by another writer/reader. This is a time travel light romance which takes a modern character back to the 13th century in Wales. I’m not a historian so can’t comment on the accuracy but it came across real enough, and that’s what fiction is all about, engaging the reader. The biggest thing I will take from this book is the number of titles this author has to her name! The list at the end is long and I shall certainly be dipping my reading glasses further.

I’ll Keep You Safe by Peter May – I’ve read all this author’s previous thriller titles. This particular book is based in Scotland (some of his previous works have been in Ireland) and he portrays setting particularly well without spelling it out or overusing dialect. The story doesn’t stay in Scotland and it starts with a gruesome murder and the reader is taken through the days, months and years preceding this. I like reading different genres because it shows me the important things about writing no matter what label it has. Character. Plot. World Building.

Map of Plagues: A Mapwalker Novel #2 by J.F.Penn – I featured Joanna Penn in one of my Author Shout Out blogs and this is her latest publication. It’s based on boundaries (a common theme at the moment😉) but good and evil boundaries and the premise fascinates me. It’s the characters who engage you and take you into a world you may not have thought of entering. These kind of books are the ones that will go on my read again list.