What a crazy start to the new year. I have gotten back to posting and actually have two reviews to post in the next couple of days, and I’m as encouraged about my own pursuits as I seem to be discouraged about the events of the world. Focus on the positives, right? I’ve read some good material that has helped to keep me sane. To really kick things off, here’s a new edition of WWW Wednesday. This is a weekly blogging series hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. In this series, members of the blogging community take the opportunity to share our reading selections with other readers. Please feel free to comment here and let me know if you have read or want to read any of these selections. And thanks for stopping by!

This series asks three questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What have you just finished reading?
• What are you planning to read next?

So let’s get straight to it…

What am I currently reading?

I’m currently reading two books. The first, in hardback, I have quite literally just started (page 5, people, so give me time). I first took notice of this one from seeing it scattered about various posts in the blogger community, and it was receiving rave reviews. So I picked up a copy of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. This also is extremely highly rated on Goodreads, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me. I have found myself immediately entranced by Harrow’s writing, and it’s certainly a fascinating premise. It’s a lovely blend of historical fiction and paranormal thriller. It tells the story of three sisters who find themselves resurrecting their magical roots in the face of a new battle against the forces that would keep them down. This time, however, they are battling on behalf of all women by joining with fellow suffragists to gain a different kind of power in society.

The second book I’m reading is one of the most thrilling, engaging, and downright fun books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. It’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. I’m about a quarter of the way through the audio, which is masterfully read by Bahni Turpin. I’ll gather with my own book club to discuss this delightful book next Friday evening, and I look forward to the lively discussion. This book has a lot of the elements I adore. It has an overarching southern Gothic style, it’s infused with excitement and intrigue, and it’s just plain laugh out loud funny. I find myself really relating to this book, especially some of the parts about navigating the everyday monotony of being a mom. I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of battling vampires just yet, but I’m not ruling it out in the future. I can’t wait to do a full review of this one next week, as I think I’ll have a lot to say.

What did I just finish reading?

I have two exciting reviews to come in the next couple of days. Just yesterday I finished the hardback version of the paranormal thriller Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. This book is a lot of fun, and it certainly keeps you guessing the whole way through. There are a lot of twists and interesting devices in play with this book, and I hope to really unpack some of that in my review to come in the next couple of days.

The second selection is a completely different kind of novel. It’s a very real-world sociopolitical thriller by Corban Addison set in Zambia in 2011 called The Garden of Burning Sand. There’s also a second early 90’s timeline in play as our protagonists delve into the life of a deceased woman to catch the rapist of her disabled teenage daughter that occurred in the present. There’s a lot poured into this book. It’s heartbreaking and beautifully written, and I look forward to putting my thoughts about this one on the page, as well. Addison tackles some seriously deep subjects, but he does so with reverence and appropriateness as opposed to the glorified shock-driven approach of some other authors who write such material.

What Will I Read Next?

If you’ve been following my previous WWW posts, you’ve noticed that I’m an extremely fickle reader. I’ve mentioned this before, and now you have the proof. I don’t think I’ve actually finished even one of the books I SAID I was going to read next, and I’ve thrown in a couple of ones I hadn’t even mentioned. Blame that on the library and the fact that books from my hold shelf become available. That being said, I plan on getting back to Russell’s The Women of the Copper Country once I finish with Harrow’s book, as I currently don’t have any library books on hold. Since I’ve already written about this one, I’ll just link back to that post so I don’t have to rehash it all over again. I was previously in progress on this book, and it was extremely engaging. I very much look forward to getting back into it and giving it the attention it deserves.

Look for my review of the Addison book tomorrow, as I WILL get around to writing it when I say I will this time. I am committed! Until then, see you next time and happy reading!