Reading Roundup for June 2023

 

This month, I am a few days early with my reading roundup as things are going to be pretty busy for the remainder of the month.

I had a lovely trip away this month and visited the Hungerford Bookshop which was lovely. If you are ever in Berkshire I recommend a visit there.  

My time away enabled me to sit and read lots of super books this month. Without further ado, here they are.

Books I Have Read

When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke - This was my book group choice this month and it had a mixed reception. It is a remarkable story but the overall feeling was that it was inconsistent in the quality of the writing. However, I enjoyed reading about this extraordinary woman. Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok - I enjoyed this rom com enormously. You can read my review by clicking here. 

My Heart was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo and Yuval Zommer -  This was a delightful collection of poems and short stories for children, written in celebration of trees. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

House of Sticks by Marc Scott - This was a little out of my reading comfort zone but I enjoyed it nonetheless. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Tails of Two Spaniels - by Heather Peck - An utterly charming book for children about two puppies who leave their litter to go to their forever homes. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Rose of Florence by Angela M. Sims - A well written and enjoyable historical fiction novel. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch - This was definitely one of my favourites this month. A feminist retelling of a traditional story. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase Link Bookshop.org *

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson - This is a lovely fantasy book for children which I really enjoyed. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Blood on the Tide by Chris O'Donoghue - This is the first part in the DI Sonny Russell crime book series. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths - This is the final book in the Ruth Galloway series. I have enjoyed them all. You can read my review by clicking here.   Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Meet the Bears by Kate Peridot and Becca Hall - This is a delightful book for children about different species of bears. Beautifully illustrated. You can read my review by clicking here.   

Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus - This was a wonderful book which I really enjoyed. I did not get around to reviewing it but it really was excellent.   Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

The Writer's Guide to Obscurity by John Steinberg. This was a very short and humourous book.  You can read my review by clicking here.  

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Suzy K. Quinn - This book is adorable and I really enjoyed every moment of reading it. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

A Court at Constantinople by Anthony Earth - This was not for me.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hall by Sophie Hannah - I did not get very far through this before it had to be returned to the library.

Books I am Partway Through

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

The Village Vicar by Julie Houston

Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keech - BookReview

 

 I was born in the midst of a storm, when the waves rose so high up the cliffs of Tintagel it was feared the entire castle would be dragged into the sea. Though my mother never spoke of it, my nurse Gwennol often told the tale - how Lady Igraine's cries fought with the thunder, her pain carried off on the screaming wind, lightning illuminating her struggle and the dangerous labour she never had with my two sisters.

'For a while we were sure she would die,' Gwennol would say, holding me rapt, over the music of Cornwall's swirling clifftop breeze. 'Hours she lay there, howling like a banshee, bone-tired. We were about to lose the light when your lady mother sat up, staring at the window as if seeing the Angel Gabriel himself. 'The sea has come!' she cried. 'Risen up to bear us away!'...

***

An atmospheric, feminist retelling of the early life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, set against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.

When King Uther Pendragon murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage, Morgan refuses to be crushed. Trapped amid the machinations of men in a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, she discovers secret powers. Vengeful and brilliant, it's not long before Morgan becomes a worthy adversary to Merlin, influential sorcerer to the king. But fighting for her freedom, she risks losing everything – her reputation, her loved ones and her life.

***

This book is being published today and I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy. It was a fabulous read and I am already certain that it will be one of my favourite reads of the year.

It is not an easy task to write a re-telling of an age old story in a completely different way. This feminist perspective of Morgan was empowering to read. In a time period which was strongly patriarchal, the author did a fantastic job in creating this alternative depiction of the Arthurian legend.

I equally enjoyed her portayal of Merlin which was completely different to the friendly wizard we have come to expect from other versions of him. Ms. Keech describes him as a sinister character who Morgan distrusts from the very beginning. As soon as we encounter him we know that the author is offering the reader an engaging alternative of this story.

I loved the strong female characters and relationships in this book; from the time Morgan spends in the nunnery right through to the strong relationship she has with Alys and other secondary female characters. Even her mother, whilst not so obviously a strong female character, is vital in enabling Morgan to receive an education - an avenue not open to women of the period.

It is very much a character driven novel which is told at a sedate pace. The author possesses the ability to inhabit her characters, bringing them perfectly to life on the page.

The prose is beautifully written and I enjoyed reading every word of this fabulous novel. This is the author's debut novel. She is a skilled storyteller and I cannot wait to read more from her.

ISBN: 978 0861545193

Publisher:  Magpie

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  352 (hardback)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

About the Author:

Sophie Keetch has a BA in English Literature from Cardiff University, which included the study of Arthurian legend. She is Welsh and lives with her husband and son in South Wales. For her debut novel, she was drawn to Morgan le Fay because of the progression of her character through time, becoming ever more villainous as she was written and rewritten in the words of men. But beneath the infamy, Sophie felt there was an unsung story and was compelled to seek out the woman behind the myth and give a voice to her contradictions.

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(author photo courtesy of The Soho Agency)

(Author info courtesy of GoodReads)

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.