WWW Wednesday is currently hosted by Taking On A World of Words, and asks three simple questions that allows me to chat about what I’m reading, as well as my most recent and upcoming reads!
What have you just finished reading?
Considering I’ve had two assessments to hand in, it’s not shocking I’ve only managed to finish one book in the week. This story follows Frannie Langton, from her time as a slave on a Jamaican plantation to her final days working in the house of Mr and Mrs Benham, as she accounts her life as she’s put on trail for their murder. The testimonies against her are condemning: seductress, whore and her very race as a black women. An amazing premise, but one I’m sad to say I don’t think was lived up to. This isn’t a bad book by any means, it just lacked the emotional punch I was often craving, and with it’s slow pacing I’m afraid it missed out on being great.
What are you currently reading?
The Moonstone Girls by Brooke Skiptone is a book I’ve only just picked up from Netgallery. It follows the story of Tracy, a young queer girl growing up in 1960s America, and the consequences of her homophobic father catching her and her gay brother with their respective lovers. At seventeen, Tracy leaves her life behind disguised as boy, following a photo of a girl with a guitar to Alaska in the hope she might be able to find herself. I’m not very far into this yet so I don’t have any solidified thoughts yet, but I can see the potential and I’m looking forward to seeing where it will go.
She Who Became the Sun is a book that has dominated book twitter and seems to have won over most of it’s readers – I’m only a few chapters in, and I can see why – it’s the book I most looking forward to reading more of. In a village struck by famine two siblings are given their destinies, the boy everything, the girl nothing, yet when the brother dies Zhu finds herself left with the opportunity to assume his identity and take his place at a monastery to survive. So far, it has been fantastic and I haven’t picked it up again in fear of not being able to put it down again.
The Familiars by Stacey Hall is the book I’m furthest into and the one I’m the least sure about so far. Unfortunately, I fear this has been mis-categorised as an adult book when the writing style, and young protagonist are far better suited to YA. The story follows two women’s lives as they became increasingly entangled with each other; one is Fleetwood, a noblewoman pregnant again after having lost her previous pregnancies, and having discovered a letter addressed to her husband proclaiming if she is ever with child again she will likely die; and Alice, a local midwife, caught up with women accused of witchcraft but the only who it seems can help Fleetwood. The tale explores the question of whether 16th century witch-hunting was just woman-hunting or not? (The answer is obviously yes if there is any doubt).
What do you plan on reading next?
I’m really feeling these two books from my Winter TBR list and I’m hoping I’ll be able to get to them soon!
Moonlit Books 
Sorry to hear Frannie Langton didn’t quite live up to your expectations. I enjoyed it more than you although I did feel the author tried to cram in a few too many different ideas. I’ve read The Familiars too and although the points you raise didn’t occur to me I was expecting it to be more about the witch trials. I have her next book, The Foundling, in my TBR pile.
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I have to admit I read She Who Became the Sun pretty fast, without quite meaning to! It’s such an atmospheric book!
The Underground Railroad has been on my TBR for the longest time, too, actually.
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I have been wanting to read The Underground Railroad. I have a copy of The Nickel Boys on my Kindle. Enjoy your reading, and here’s MY WWW POST
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Interesting that you mention that about The Familiars but it’s good to know before going into it! It’s been sitting on my TBR for a while now but I’m keen to pick it up. Glad to hear you’re also enjoying SWBTS. I’m also currently “reading” it but I hope to finish it by the end of the month! Happy reading 🙂
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