I reported not that long ago that I've been reading again and so I'm here to share with you what I've been reading. Rich asked me how I find new books and this is one of the ways - seeing what others have been reading via blogs, FB, IG, etc. I also periodically scroll through the new ebook titles on my library's website. For those wondering, I went through a bit of a transition period after I stopped working because I used to read on the train and I obviously lost that train time. Now, I sometimes read at night, sometimes I read during the day, and sometimes I read when I shouldn't be.
I am of the opinion that most trilogies exist simply to make money. To me, it feels like the third book drags on much longer than it should and that maybe, possibly, the three books could have been written as one long novel. I recently read two books that completed trilogies - Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs and End of Watch by Stephen King. Library of Souls wasn't too bad but I did think the storyline was pulled along and then the ending was super quick. End of Watch was slightly better in that it was somewhat of a different story than the first two books. All three books are connected but it's not the same book broken into three. I've been a King fan for almost 30 years now (gah! I'm old) but this one didn't seem believable to me. It was well written but there was something I couldn't quite buy into.
I know - everyone read Bloom years ago. Kelle Hampton and I share some common ground with our daughters and this was an interesting read. However, I grew up in a Boston Irish Catholic household (which means we were taught to suppress emotions) and so Kelle and I are very different in that manner. The world would be pretty boring if we were all the same though. Wouldn't it?
This next one may sound boring but trust me, it is anything but. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (by Matthew Desmond) takes an in-depth look at the housing crisis in America by telling the story of both tenants and landlords in some of the poorest areas of Milwaukee. This was so well written and fascinating. The author actually lived with and followed the "characters" of the book for months. This book was so good that I had trouble shutting the kindle.
Bird Box by Josh Malerman. OMG. This book was dangerous in that I would start reading and an hour would go by just like that. Poof. Gone. This page turner is a quick read. If you're into apocalyptic themed books, this one's right up your alley. I'm recommending this to everyone though. It is that good.
My wish list right now is out of control but what have you been reading?
13 comments:
I have serious Thoughts on Kelle Hampton, and that book specifically, but www.gofugyourself.com just did a post about what folks are reading now. The site content may not be your specific jam, but Fug Nation is full of very smart, very interesting people with tons of great suggestions.
http://www.gofugyourself.com/your-afternoon-chat-what-are-you-reading-right-now-10-2016
I knew nothing about Fug Nation - haha - but thank you! My wish list just grew longer. I'll add that to my list of places to find new books.
Kelle Hampton - I wouldn't feel right saying anything negative so I focused on the fact that we are very much different people.
I just finished reading "The Wonder" by Emma Donoghue (she also wrote "Room," among others). I felt the same way about it that you did about "Bird Box" - I would just get lost in it and then realize it was an hour past my bedtime or realize that I had been completely tuning out my kid who had been talking to me for 10 minutes! I finished it in a little over a day. I don't know if it is great literature, but it is certainly a compelling read! And I am still thinking about it 2 days later, so...that's my mark of a good book!
Thanks for your recommendations!
Thanks for your recommendations- I just added Bird Box to my library hold list! My favorite recent reads have been Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (post-apocalyptic and terrifying not in a scary/horror way, but in an oh-my-gosh-this-is-how-it-really-could-be way...will have you thinking for DAYS!) and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (a time traveling WWII book...a little weird to get into at first, but SO SO good once you figure out what's going on. I actually read this one and then read it again 3 months later, which I NEVER do, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it!!).
Teej - Thanks for the recommendation. I liked Room and have been meaning to see what else she's written.
Erika - I read Station Eleven back in the spring (I think) and LOVED it. I'll have to add Life After Life to my wish list.
I'm reading "The Wonder" right now - just started so no opinion yet. I'm also currently reading "The Road to Little Dribblig" by Bill Bryson because he's a favorite of mine. It's very funny so far.
Also just read "Today will be different" by Maria Semple. She also wrote "Where'd you go, Bernadette" - if you liked that, you'd like her new one. I enjoyed it.
Before that I read "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi. It's about the history of slavery in Africa and the US, and I really loved it. Obviously it is hard to read and very sad at times, but overall I just loved the perspective of it and how interesting each segment was.
Other books I read recently and liked: "The Group" by Mary McCarthy, "Some Luck" by Jane Smiley (a trilogy - I agree, the third book was the worst, but I loved the first two), "Days of Awe" by Lauren Fox (I found it depressing and didn't love it, but was compelled to read it all). I also liked "Miller's valley" by Anna Quindlen. I read "The girls" and it was OK.
Oh Lord, Kelle Hampton gets seriously under my skin . . . not because she's emotional, but because of the way she treats her children, specifically her younger two. Anyway.
I just finished Mara Wilson (child actress from Matilda/Miracle on 34th St)'s book and loved it. I also just finished reading "The Secret Scripture" which was okayish. The movie was better, which is weird to say, I know, but this writer is just not my cup of tea.
If you don't like trilogies then you probably wont want to start on the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child... I'm currently reading #20 and #21 is due out next month!
"I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes is absolutely excellent.
And I told you about "The Bronze Horseman" Trilogy by Paullina Simons.
Kim :)
Have I mentioned Leaving Time before? It's Jodi Picoult and while I read it over a year ago, I've been thinking about it a lot recently.
I have Food Freedom Forever next on my list and as I pre-ordered it, it's been sitting there staring at me for nearly two weeks now. I have been in more of a fiction mood though, so I'll be looking into some of these recommendations. :) I also really need to get some books "on tape" as my reading time is seriously limited right now.
LOVED Leaving Time - I read it a few years ago.
Aimee - Eeeek! That's a long series. Although I've been told that I would like the Outlanders.
Thanks, Kim!
I've read two books via your recommendations, and loved both of them (Bird Box and Station Eleven.) You have to read a series of books that start with Until the end of the world by Sarah lyons Fleming. You will love them, Sarah! Promise!
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