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What are you reading?
Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures – Emma Straub – 3***
I wasn’t expecting great literature, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a rags-to-riches, poor-girl-marries-powerful-executive, money-can’t-buy-happiness story that would have easily been produced by the studio-system of Hollywood in the 1930s and ‘40s. The book is light on character development, but it’s a quick read, and although I found the plot somewhat predictable, I was content to go along for the ride.
LINK to my review
Currently reading, effective March 11TEXT -
Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim MarshallAUDIO in the car -
Beartown by Fredrik BackmanMP3 audio -
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Snow Falling on Cedars – David Guterson – 4****
At once a courtroom drama, a love story, a war story and a coming-of-age story, Guterson’s debut novel is a marvelous work depicting one man’s struggle against his baser instincts. A murder trial serves as the framework for exploring the complex relationships between Kabuo, Natsue and Ishmael.
LINK to my review
I'm currently listening to Aloha from Hell on Audible and I'm reading Children of Time on my Kindle.
Currently I am reading Astrophysics For People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
Plaid and Plagiarism – Molly MacRae – 3***
Four women take possession of their new bookshop, Yon Bonnie Books, in the Highlands of Scotland. Before Janet can move into her new house, however, they find a body in the garden shed. I like these characters. Add some colorful local citizens, a constable who’s never had a murder case before, and lots of references to books and you have a recipe for an enjoyable cozy mystery.
LINK to my review
The Christmas Shoes – Donna VanLiere – 1.5*
Trite and maudlin Christmas story that capitalizes on the popularity of the song. There are better Christmas stories with meaningful messages out there.
LINK to my review
Just finished this one!
The Hero Of Ages (Mistborn #3), by Brandon Sanderson
★★★★★
An excellent conclusion to an excellent trilogy. It made me cry
Click here for my review
Currently wrapping up this one:
Aaaannd starting this one:
Anita wrote: "A very cool fantasy epic.The Name of the Wind
"Loved that book! Hate the fact that it's been a decade and the final book in the trilogy isn't out yet!
Finished this one finally!
It took two months to finish because I'm really not a non-fiction reader, but I did enjoy it.
Click here for my full review
Now I've got to work on these two:
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert.
My Name is Red – Orhan Pamuk – 3***
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator. When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. I found these interesting, but felt they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
LINK to my review
Just finished A Handmaid’s Tale. Starting The Rapture of Canaan.
Night At the Fiestas – Kristin Valdez Quade – 4****
It’s difficult to rate a collection, because some of the stories resonate more with me than others. Quade gives us ten beautifully written stories in this collection. Ever since I studied O Henry and Edgar Allan Poe in junior high, I have loved short stories. With this collection, Kristin Valdez Quade is added to my list of authors who have perfected this format.
LINK to my review
Finished this one:
My Mrs. Brown, by William Norwich
★★★★
A lovely little story about a sweet, quietly dignified woman.
Click here for my full review
March: Book Two – John Lewis – 4****
This is the second in a trilogy of graphic memoirs detailing the Civil Rights Movement and early career of U.S. Representative John Lewis. I applaud Lewis and his collaborators for bringing this era in America’s history to the attention of young readers. Providing this information in this format makes it more accessible to a young audience, and it’s important that they learn about this episode in our nation’s history.
LINK to my review
Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi – 4****
A sweeping historical fiction that follows the descendants of two half-sisters over three hundred years. Trying to cover 300 years of history, on two continents, is an ambitious undertaking. Doing it in just over 300 pages is just about impossible. But Gyasi does a credible job. Each chapter focuses on a different character, moving the action forward generation by generation. This debut shows that Gyasi is an author to watch.
LINK to my review
Anita wrote: "A very cool fantasy epic.The Name of the Wind
"Love love love The Name of the Wind. I just finished The Wise Man's Fear earlier this year. I'm eager for the third book to come out. I just heard that Patrick Rothfuss announced that this trilogy is a prequel to another series he'll be writing. A television show, that will be a prequel to the Name of the Wind trilogy, is in production with Lin Manuel-Miranda attached. So much exciting news!
joyce g wrote: "Sandman Slim by Richard Kadeem."Joyce I hope you enjoy it! I just finished the third Sandman Slim novel, Aloha from Hell. I'm excited to continue the series.
Finished this one:
Alloy Of Law (Mistborn #5), by Brandon Sanderson
★★★★★
A great start to a sequel trilogy in an excellent fantasy series
Click here for my full review
Working on these two next:
Prisoners of Geography – Tim Marshall – 4****
I’ve always been relatively good at geography, and yet I wouldn’t say I’m particularly interested in or fascinated by the subject. Until now. I was pleasantly surprised at how very readable and understandable Marshall’s work is. I quickly became engaged in the way he outlined the benefits and challenges of various geographical features.
LINK to my review
Since I last checked in I read the short story Devil in the Dollhouse. It was a fun continuation of the Sandman Slim series.I also read Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World which I absolutely loved. I know a book is really special when I miss reading it, haha.
I’m currently reading “The Nest” by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. Last week I read a biography on Benjamin Franklin and a book called “I break for Yard Sales” by Lara Spencer.
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith – 4****
Galbraith is the pseudonym of J K Rowling, and this book proves that she knows how to craft a compelling story. I really liked Strike as a lead character, but I really loved his assistant, Robin. These two make a great team. The plot is suitably complex, with plenty of red herrings to confuse and misdirect both Strike and the reader. I’ll definitely continue with this series.
LINK to my review
Samantha wrote: "I’m currently reading “The Nest” by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. "I'm just about to start that as well ... listening to the audio.
Mod
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline.
I'm currently reading Red Clocks which I love- I read the first 100 pages in one sitting when I was supposed to be going to bed :pI'm listening to Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch which is fun but hasn't gotten me hooked yet.
I'm also still reading Children of Time which is a good book, but I've been focusing more on paper books due to migraines.
Beartown – Fredrik Backman – 4****
A character wonders: “what are principles worth, if you don’t win?”. That may be the essence of this novel, set in a small town where hockey is everything. This is definitely a departure from the kinds of novels that have made Backman an international literary star. No cranky old men or grandmothers who spin fantasy adventure tales here. But you will recognize Backman’s gift for drawing characters – good, bad, young, old, talented young people, and alcoholic has-beens.
LINK to my review
Missoula – Jon Krakauer – 4****
Subtitle: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. Krakauer explores the issue of acquaintance rape, and particularly, the ways in which universities dismiss victim complaints in favor of all-star athletes. Disturbing and distressing, but important enough to read. Most rapists are NOT strangers in ski masks hiding in dark alleys; rather, they are the boys next door or men in the office.
LINK to my review
Well, since I lost commented I read “The Daughter” by Jane Shemit and now I am currently reading “A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton.
I recently finished this
This is book 2 of a series of 4 by Elena Ferrante. It is translated in English (from Italian) and it is so good! I enjoyed book 2 even more than book 1.
I am now reading
This is also a series (#3) in which the author tells about his mother's life. It is a novel, but based on actual facts. It is set in Montreal, the city where I live, which makes it even more interesting to me.
With Hemingway – Arnold Samuelson – 4****
Subtitle: A Year in Key West and Cuba. This is Samuelson’s memoir of a year spent with Ernest Hemingway, learning from the master about writing and living. I can definitely see the influence of Hemingway’s style, and yet Samuelson’s writing is all his own.
LINK to my review
The Radium Girls – Kate Moore – 5*****
Moore brings to life the stories of the brave women who painted luminous watch dials in the early 20th century, using radium-infused paint, which ultimately became their death sentence. The reader is in turns incensed and outraged, surprised by the ignorance and cavalier attitudes, and heartbroken by the pain and suffering these women endured.
LINK to my review
One of Us Is Wrong – Donald Westlake (writing as Samuel Holt – 3***
Westlake/Holt’s crime capers are not great literature, but they are loads of fun to read. Fast-paced, likeable characters, some funny dialogue, a great sidekick (I need a “Robinson” in my life!), leggy ladies, handsome leading man, car chases, guns, and crazy coincidences.
LINK to my review
The Nest – Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney – 3.5***
This is a wonderful debut novel, a character-driven tale that explores sibling relations, family dynamics, and a host of other issues that require open communication … something the Plumb siblings have never learned to do. I got drawn into their dynamic fairly quickly, but I think Sweeney was a bit too ambitious, covering many more issues and including many different points of view. I’ll be interested to see what Sweeney’s next novel is about.
LINK to my review
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Lockdown – Laurie R King – 4****
King is probably best known for her Mary Russell series, but this is a stand-alone psychological thriller. The novel focuses on an incident at Guadalupe Middle School in San Felipe, California, and follows the characters from shortly after midnight to about 1:30 in the afternoon. I thought a couple of the elements of the plot’s ending were just too conveniently pat, but I was still entertained throughout.
LINK to my review