Confessions of a bad reader trying to do better

Sunny Side Up #35

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am a terrible reader. This is really embarrassing to admit on an app that revolves around words, but let me explain…

I read so many books as a child, and my parents read to me. As I grew up I discovered audiobooks and would listen to them so often they were embroidered in the fabric of my mind. I could recite most of the Malory Towers books by heart (probably still could, but don’t ask me to try). I always had a special love for mystery books, and every time we’d visit my grandparents by the seaside we were allowed to pick up a new novel from Waterstones. My sister and I spent much time carefully deliberating which one we would take home with us.

I earned my badge as a “bad reader” in university. Ironically, I studied an English Literature degree. I hated most of the books I had to read and felt humiliated every time I turned up to a seminar, having just spent the past week dragging my eyes across the pages and still having no idea what happened. It didn’t help that most of the books revolved around triggering themes that I would never choose to read about myself.

Books were supposed to be a happy place to escape to, not unexplored realms that made my tummy churn.

I had been reluctant to pick up another book since my degree ended - I’d reprogrammed myself to believe I wasn’t smart enough to read the sort of literature I keep seeing others consuming, and it felt like a waste of time to spend time reading something I wouldn’t enjoy anyway.

That was until I picked up a copy of The Appeal by Janice Hallett last year after hearing her talk at a book event. I was hooked, and finished it within a week. This might be a really long time for some of you, but that’s really fast for me. Since reading The Appeal I’ve found a few more new favourites, and so for today’s Sunny Side Up, we’re doing a (rare) reading round up.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey - I picked this one up in Hatchard’s while I was waiting for my friend Lucy’s train to arrive. It was small, had won a prize, and it seemed like one I could bash out while eating a croissant in the station, and on the train journey home. Though I appreciated the language in this book and it painted some truly beautiful pictures for my mind, I struggled to follow the plot because, well, there wasn’t one. It reminded me of something I’d read at uni and try really hard to understand, and then feel a bit stupid in the following seminar because I’d totally misinterpreted. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads, but I think I would bump this down to 2 in hindsight because I completely forgot about it until just now.

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie - it devastates me to tell you this, but I didn’t finish this one. Not because it was bad, in fact I found Bella Mackie’s writing style to be utterly fantastic and she got the tone and voice spot on for the character, so if you’re looking for a darkly comic novel, definitely give this a go. I read just over half of this one before I decided it was actually just making me a bit sad - I feel like it’s not a spoiler to tell you this book is about a girl who sets out to kill her whole family for reasons that become clearer as you read. In the doom and gloom of winter I wanted something a bit more uplifting, so maybe I’ll come back to this at another time.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I know what I just said about being sad, but I actually loved this one. Jojo Moyes really got the balance right and I had tears streaming down my face as I neared the end. I bookmarked so many pages. I love how she occasionally gave us different POVs, it really did help us see a wider shot of the story so we weren’t limited by Lou’s perspective. I’d recommend this for a really beautiful, but emotional, read. I gave this five stars on my Goodreads.

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes - okay following on from Me Before You I was having a Jojo Moyes moment but I got half way through this one and had to put it down. It was advertised as being a super uplifting book but honestly it made me so sad again! I also think because the women in this novel were in their forties I couldn’t really relate to their perspectives or experiences, but that’s a me problem.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton - this time in audiobook form! I think Arthur Darvill and Vanessa Kirby did a great job at bringing this book to life. I haven’t read a book from the perspective of a man going through a breakup before, so I appreciate Dolly giving us something different here! I did find myself absolutely craving to know what Jen was feeling throughout, though.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - Five stars no notes.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary - another reread!! This is my ultimate comfort book, I think I read this three or four times during my uni years to get me through the stressful times. Wanted to enjoy it again because tonight I’m seeing Beth O’Leary to discuss her new novel Swept Away, which is undoubtedly next up on my list! The Flatshare is five stars for me, I first read it when I was nineteen and it’s been a permanent fixture on my reading rotation ever since. Warm, happy, cosy, heartfelt, funny.

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister - omg started listening to the audiobook of this on the train home from Edinburgh and decided it was so good I needed to pick up the physical edition to digest it properly. I have since bought more of Gillian McAllister’s books to take on holiday later in the year. Consider me GRIPPED. I haven’t read a thriller before, and I’m so glad I’ve started here. Loved the ending. Five stars from me :)

Up next: Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

Could be a longer list I’m sure, but it’s better than I’ve done in a long time and honestly I’m just happy to get the buzz of finishing a new book again. Please leave me your recommendations below!!

(I’ve just picked up a bunch of books from

Izzy

’s recommendation posts so look there if you’re wanting suggestions!)

• I got my beloved copy of The Flatshare signed by the woman herself! The most wonderful evening listening to Beth talk, I left overflowing with inspiration and warmth.

• As referred to in my previous post, enjoying wearing my special shoes on average days!

• Another accidental joy, propping a projector up in my bedroom? It’s like having a cinema screen next to my bed.

• The Ed Sheeran episode of Call Her Daddy was so funny to me. I still love this man.

• Seeing flowers in bloom is such a happy thing.

• LOOK at the colour of this raspberry sorbet - have you ever seen anything like it? 10/10 delicious.

• I took this picture of the beach and it looks so moody but it was actually really lovely.

• Nostalgia is a Mind Trick by

  Michelle

• How Reading Became Another Capitalist Tool by

  Izzy

• Things I think about a lot by

  Ellen

• This piece could be my big break by

  Harriet Toole

Same time next week? (She says, having been a week late with this one) Xx

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