The Terror of Knowing

As you may have seen, I’m taking part in this round of the Tome Topple readathon. I’m not sure how much intensive reading I’m going to get done over the next fortnight but I’ve put together a tentative TBR stack to choose from. This is officially my Updates post for the course of the readathon – I’ll pin it to the top of my blog for the duration of Tome Topple and update it regularly/when I remember. Let’s just get right to it…

Day One – 18th November

Welp, it wasn’t until today, when I was putting together my TBR post, that I realised the readathon actually started on the turn of midnight last night (i.e. 17th into 18th November), not tonight. Soooo… I’m already a day behind, and I still have some of Becky Chambers’ The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet to finish. I’m loving that book as well so I won’t be rushing it just to start reading tomes for this readathon. I’ll try my best to finish that today though!

Day Two – 19th November

12.00pm – I finished The Long Way To A Small Angry PLanet this morning so now I can start reading my Tome Topple TBR with gusto. I’m going to the gym in a little while so I’ll possibly read/listen to an audiobook there, if I end up on the exercise bike.

7.00pm – Well it’s time for Strictly Come Dancing at Blackpool so obviously I need to dedicate my full attention to watching that – and doing the Strictly Saturdays blog post. I might get some reading done afterwards though because I’m getting better at putting those posts up asap. We’ll see-

Day Three – 20th November

3.00pm – Having went for an amazing brunch (more like just actual lunch by the time we sat down tbh) at The Tavern, I’m very full and very sleepy. I managed to start reading a bit of The Host, which Liz has promised to re-read along with me, and I’ve also read some 50 pages of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell when I wasn’t quite feeling The Host anymore. My mood and reading is a bit scatty today, not sure why, but it doesn’t make for the most productive of days!

9.00pm – Welp, rather predictably, I did not get much reading done today. Strictly results (what the hell, btw?!) and Planet Earth 2 took priority, to be honest. Plus I defy anyone to choose reading over listening to David Attenborough tell you about jungles.

Day Four – 21st November

1.00pm – I tried (and failed yet again) to get into reading David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas. I’ve tried, guys, this is the third time I’ve picked it up with a renewed sense of purpose but the opening just does not grip me. I know I’d probably love this book if I persevered but, right now, my mind says no.

6.00pm – I sense I will not read anymore today. I’m tired and the weather is shitty so I think I’ll wallow and feel sorry for myself whilst watching University Challenge and Only Connect instead of reading. Sorry/not sorry.

Day Five – 22nd November

4.00pm – Work has been so busy with little bits and pieces to do and confusions and blah that I’m really glad it’s over for the day. Myself and Liz are going to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them tonight and I’m so excited. I’m tentatively optimistic about the film. I do not have expectations, aside from the fact that I will come out wanting to own Newt’s coat, so I probably can’t be disappointed by it.

11.00pm – Fantastic Beasts was wonderful – I adored it. It only took the first few seconds and hearing that famous score for me to get chills because this was another chance to enter JK Rowling’s Wizarding World afresh. It’s hard to think back to the first time you experienced Harry Potter and I always say I’d love to be able to relive the magic of experiencing that world for the first time – this film was a chance to do that. I loved Eddie Redmayne’s Newt, he was wonderful, and I adored Kowalski (he’s definitely gonna come back, right?). I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline; I didn’t hate it, I thought they did well to not overwhelm people by suddenly info-dumping all this stuff about magic in America. They just kind of presumed knowledge of Harry Potter/the UK’s system and then worked bits and pieces about American society into it. I’m glad they did this though, and introduced US magic through the filter of the 1920s, because it was a wonderful piece. In more frivolous terms – I would like a Niffler, please and thank you.

Day Six – 23nd November

9.30am – Well, as you can see, I must have done everything but read so far for this readathon.  had to call in sick to work today because that slight discomfort I have in my feet (I ran on a treadmill in shoes lacking support and hurt myself, it’s such an embarrassingly pathetic injury) has got to the point where it’s not getting any better because I’m making myself walk for some 30 minutes each way there and back to work, plus the 20 minutes I stand up (inevitably) on the train journeys themselves. So, I decided I need to try to let my feet rest before Friday (I’m the only one in the office on Fridays, so I really do need to try to make it in then). This is perfect time to try to read since I need to just sit and not move much. That seems like a pretty good excuse!

1.00pm – I’m at page 200 of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. You know, I’m reading it pretty easily since it’s a quick read and simple language and I get that it’s making references to Harry Potter and tropes etc. but I’m not… I’m not overly impressed so far? Which is a HUGE shame because I adored Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and this book stemmed from its mention in that novel. I just… I don’t think I’m all that immersed. Maybe I’m not in the right mood for it? Maybe I’m just not at a good point in the story yet? We’ll see… for now I need to take a break to try move enough to make it upstairs to shower and get dressed. Wish me luck?

11.30pm – Finished off Carry On. 3.5 stars, I’d say. I mean I enjoyed it but I’m not sure if I LOVED it as much as I probably should have. Still, it was an enjoyable read, and I felt like I had to read it after enjoying that element of Fangirl. I think I’m quite tired enough now and will definitely fall asleep straight away so I will decide what to read in the morning.

Day Seven – 24th November

11.00am – I think I’ll start on All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I’ve been meaning to read this for months now and it’s getting ridiculous. Everyone says it’s brilliant and I will love it so it seems about time to see for myself, doesn’t it?

Day Eight – 25th November

9.00am – Guess who didn’t read anything yesterday? Oops, that me. And the Gilmore Girls revival episodes are officially here so… I mean… I can’t possibly read when there are episodes here in need of watching.

Day Nine – 26th November

4.00pm – We watched the final episode of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and it was glorious, frankly. Everything I could have hoped for. Is it too obsessive to immediately go back and rewatch it? Probably.

8.00pm – Cooked (well “cooked”, all I did was add sauce) curry tonight and it was glorious and now I’m not sure I can move. We’re in the middle of watching Strictly because we know how to live the high life. I suspect I won’t get much reading done tonight.

11.00pm – I lied – I read some 30 pages of Crown of Midnight, which isn’t over 500 pages at all. I intended to pick up Heir of Fire again (I DNFed it a few months ago) but then I realised I remember nothing of the second book, so looks like I’ll be reading that instead/first. It doesn’t “count” for the readathon but, frankly, with the amount I’m reading, it will have to count for something.

Day Ten – 27th November

11.00am – So, clearly, there’s now a Gilmore Girls shaped hole in my life again. However will I fill it? Oh, that’s right, by ill-advisedly starting to watch a new (to me) tv show – Once Upon A Time. I’ve previously watched season 1 but I remember so little that I’m having to go back to the start. I anticipate that if I don’t get too sucked into the story, I’ll end up reading some this afternoon.

Books Read:
Finished off The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers [140 pages]
Read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell [522 pages]

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