Reading Right Now

For the first time since I was at university I am currently reading more than one book at the same time.  I won't lie, I was concerned that my head would explode if I was to demand so much of it all at once (it may still happen!) but so far, touch wood, everything is going smoothly.

Anyway... the first book I started reading was "11.22.63" by Stephen King.

The premise is that there is a time travel portal in a grungy American diner which is used by a local school teacher who attempts to go back in time and prevent the assassination of JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald. I am about halfway through it just now and I won't lie, it is a slow burner.  The first few chapters were verging on laborious which is, in my experience, not typical of Stephen King.  I guess the main benefit of my reading OCD about not leaving a book unfinished once I start is that every book gets a chance to redeem itself. On this occasion I am so glad that I persevered. 

Don't get me wrong I do love Stephen King and normally I would be all over this but I am really finding myself really having to force myself to dedicate the time to finishing this book.  It has got a lot better since the start but there is definitely something missing from this novel.  I am wondering if  the reason I am feeling like this is because I haven't got to the end where lots of loose ends will be tied up - particularly around the time travel aspect of the novel. I will have my final thoughts on this as soon as I finish it - hopefully I will feel a little bit more enthused by then.

The other book that I am reading at the moment is "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.

 This is a sharp contrast to "11.22.63" in that it has me head over slippers from the beginning.  The recent TV adaptation had a similar effect on me and from episode 1 I knew I would have to start reading the novel. I can't say a lot about the novel so far because I am only about 50 pages in but I know that I am going to speed through this one fairly quickly.

The main thing I have noticed about the novel so far is the style of writing where imagery is used in a fairly vague but dramatic way to create intrigue from the off.  I feel a little bit like I have spoiled the book a little for myself because I watched the series and can see past the vague descriptions of events at the beginning of the novel.  There is something magical about the creation of the characters so far that I really hope will continue.  I feel real sympathy towards the "handmaids" but I also feel real sympathy for the Commander's wife too (this may change as I get further through the novel!) because I feel like the situation is as much forced on her as it is Offred. I am completely intrigued by "The Handmaid's Tale" and just can't wait to power through the rest (possibly this weekend) and finding out more about all of the characters.

I am currently trying to decide whether to add a third into the mix but I will see how the two go for now then decide when I am further through.

My next post will be my June book haul closely followed by a wrap up of books I have read in June.

Meg x