Hosted by Taking on a World of Words, this meme is all about the three Ws:
- What are you currently reading?
- What did you recently finish reading?
- What do you think you’ll read next?
Why not join in too? Leave a comment with your link at Taking on a World of Words and then go blog hopping!
What I’m Currently Reading
Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet (Polygon)
On 9 July 1857, Angus MacPhee, a labourer from Liniclate on the island of Benbecula, murdered his father, mother and aunt. At trial in Inverness he was found to be criminally insane and confined in the Criminal Lunatic Department of Perth Prison.
Some years later, Angus’s older brother Malcolm recounts the events leading up to the murders while trying to keep a grip on his own sanity. Malcolm is living in isolation, ostracised by the community and haunted by this gruesome episode in his past.
Julia Sleeps by Zoe Caryl
Julia Sleeps is a heart-warming tale of grit, dreams, and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. At its center is Evie Jameson, a feisty young Glaswegian with a voice that could melt steel and stir souls. Born into a humble tenement in the shadow of the Great Depression, Evie draws on the strength and support of her indomitable mother, grandmother and sister, but it is her devoted father Johnny who is her champion. Everyone expects her to clock in at Buchannans Sweetie Factory in Cowcaddens, but Evie has other plans – plans that shimmer with spotlight and song.
With Johnny by her side, Evie dares to chase the impossible: a career on the stage. Her father is her fiercest ally, shielding her from the harsh realities of showbiz while cheering her every note. Together, they navigate the dazzling highs and bruising lows of the entertainment world as Glasgow begins to shake off its post-depression gloom.
But just as Evie’s star begins to rise in 1939, history intervenes. War erupts, and the call of duty threatens to crush Evie’s dreams and take her and Johnny from the city they adore. The conflict thrusts Evie into dangers and adventures she could never have imagined, but amid the chaos, will she also find love?
From London in the Blitz to magical, mysterious India her courage and integrity are put to the test and she must draw on the strength forged by her proud Scottish heritage. Inspired by a true story, Evie’s tale is one of nostalgia, ambition and resilience where family, true friendships and love shape both the woman and the singer she is destined to become.
What I’ve Just Read
Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World by Parmy Olson (Macmillan Business)
Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier ( Victor Gollancz)
What I’ll Be Reading Next
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson (Headline)
Kate stretches her legs and turns on the TV while James washes away the traces of their morning. She watches in horror at the unfolding news: the hotel they are staying in has been taken under siege.
She should be making her way home, working on appearing normal, getting ready to re-enter family life with her loving husband Vic and their two adored children. Instead, she is trapped somewhere she shouldn’t be, with a man she definitely doesn’t love.
How will she begin to tell Vic what she is doing here? If her body is found, will it give up the secret of what she’s been up to? She’s been so careful hiding the evidence of her affair: write nothing down, leave no trace. Will he begin to understand why?
For now, Kate can only hide, take a deep breath, and reflect on the series of choices she’s made that have brought her to this moment.
What will her marriage and her life look like, if she makes it out?
What Cathy Read Next... 