Monday, September 14, 2015

It's Monday 9/14! What Are You Reading?


Another lost week here - still very sick & stuck on the couch. I had a couple of days where I thought I was getting better but then quickly got worse again. Although these kind of lengthy "crashes" are common with my chronic illness, I've been doing pretty well the last few years, so this one is hitting me hard. Not getting much done generally...but lots of extra time for reading while lying on the couch!

Here's what we are all reading last week:
  • I have three nonfiction books started (!) but was having trouble concentrating while sick. I turned to middle-grade novels which were the perfect solution! Nice and easy, fast-moving plots, and great escapism! I finished Doll Bones by Holly Black and loved its creepy, suspenseful plot and focus on friendship - the kids' pretend games reminded me so much of my own sons years ago!
  • Next, I flew through another excellent middle-grade novel that had been on my shelves for far too long: Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper. Historical fiction combined with a ghost story, this novel kept me riveted. It is set in the 1600's when the Puritans first came to the New World and focuses on the clash between their ways of life and those of the Native Americans already living here. It was a moving, powerful book that will stay with me for a long time.
  • I finally returned to my book group selection: If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran by Carla Power, about a half-Jewish journalist who grew up in several Muslim countries and embarks on a project with a good friend & Muslim scholar to learn about the Quran. This nonfiction book definitely requires more thought, but it is interesting and enlightening so far.
  • I am also still reading How To Wake Up by Toni Bernhard, a good friend of mine who also wrote How To Be Sick (she has the same illness I have). This book is about applying the principles of Buddhism to every day life, and it is very good. I've been reading a little bit each day - it's not something to read quickly but needs absorption time.
  • I finished listening to All Fall Down by Ally Carter, a teen/YA thriller set in a fictional Mediterranean country along Embassy Row. Grace goes to live with her grandfather, the longtime American ambassador. She is certain she saw her mother murdered, but no one believes her. Suspenseful and engaging, in a unique setting, it is the start of series.
  • My husband, Ken, finished Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, the second book in a series that he and our son have both enjoyed.
  • Now, Ken is reading The Girl on the Train which I read this summer. He's enjoying it so far.
  • Jamie, 21, finished Malice by John Gwynne, Book 1 of The Faithful and the Fallen series, and has now started book 2, Valour.
  • Craig, 17, finished reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, a novel I really enjoyed, for his World Lit class, though he didn't like it much - not enough action for him. His girlfriend read it along with him (they finished it on audio in the car), and she liked it!
 I actually managed a lot of blog posts last week since I couldn't leave the house:
My Big Book Summer Wrap-Up - the big books I read plus winner of the giveaway!

Movie Monday - new weekly feature - reviews of 2 movies & a mini-series

Keep Learning with Books - reprinted from my monthly book column in Vital! magazine

Review of Crows and Cards by Joseph Helgerson, a middle-grade audio book

Review of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, a novel I loved!

What are you and your family reading this week?    

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Unleashing Readers
 
   

One last reminder -  if you signed up for the Big Book Summer Challenge, you can still add your reviews of Big Books to the review list at the link (the second links list) through the end of the month.


21 comments:

  1. Doll Bones is such a good book. It reminds me a lot of The Graveyard Book in that they are certainly creepy, but it's more about life and relationships than scares. How to Wake Up sounds really good. Definitely putting it on my to-read list. I hope you begin to feel better soon.

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    1. I hadn't thought of that, but The Graveyard Book is similar - I enjoyed both books. How to Wake Up is excellent - really getting a lot out of it.

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  2. I hope you begin to recover soon!

    Have a great reading week,
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  3. Oh no! Sue, I hope you feel better soon! I know you must be miserable! Thinking of you!
    I loved Doll Bones as well. It ended up being creepier than I thought it was going to be!
    I look forward to reading A.J. Fikry. So many people love it.

    Happy reading this week! :)

    P.S. I replied to you on the comment on the blog :)

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    1. Definitely creepy - perfect for the RIP X challenge!

      AJ Fikry was amazing!

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  4. I just couldn't finish Doll Bones. It was way too creepy for me. I made three attempts at it but gave up. Maybe when I grow up, I'll try it again.

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    1. Sorry it wasn't for you - I liked the creepiness!

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  5. I read a bit by Toni Bernhard, and I listened to her NPR story. I'd like to learn more about Buddhism, so this book seems like a great start. I look forward to hearing your thoughts at the end of it.

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    1. I'm really enjoying How to Wake Up and getting a lot out of it - think you'd like it!

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  6. Hoping you are feeling better this week.
    I wish I had know about the big book summer challenge, I will look for it next year.
    I am looking forward to A Girl on the Train! When I got on the reserve list at the library I was #58 but I am next in line now- whoop!

    Currently I am reading the DCI Banks series. Thanks for stopping by my blog, Sue 😃

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    1. Tina -

      ha ha - I was about #800 on the library list for The Girl on the Train this summer! It didn't come in in time for my book group discussion, but when it finally came in last week, my husband wanted to read it...so it worked out!

      Hope you will join the Big Book Summer Challenge next year!

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  7. I love it that you're posting updates about what your family reads as well! I love a family that enjoys reading together. I am the only one in my family that reads for pleasure, and it can get lonely sometimes. I definitely plan to instill the love of reading in my kids in the future though. =)

    It's my first week doing the #IMWAYR posts. My commenting profile is whacked and doesn't link to my site, but if you're inclined to, it's over at hazelliewong.com =) Have a great reading week ahead!

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    1. Reading is one of the things my husband and I had in common right from the beginning! But we have one son who is also an avid reader and another one who see reading as evil! lol He enjoyed some reading when he was younger but now he only reads what is absolutely required for school. I am hoping he'll come around again when he is older.

      BTW, we read aloud to our sons until they were in their teens and they loved it!

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    2. That's wonderful, Sue, I'm definitely going to read to my kids in the future too. English isn't my husband's first language, but he read a lot of Chinese graphic novels when he was young, and I'm trying to get him to read more now. He wants to improve his English, so he's reading English books, but going slowly.

      It's great and I'm proud of him, but I don't get to share many good books with him because I read way too fast for him to catch up with me. LOL!

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    3. Maybe your husband will enjoy some English-language graphic novels! There are so many good ones out there now (I've been exploring them myself this past year) and they are an easier way to practice English - and fun, too!

      Start reading to your kids today! It's never too early. Two book bloggers I've become virtual friends with started reading to their sons when they were born! lol There are so many great books for even babies and toddlers.

      Nice getting to know you :)

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  8. I really enjoyed Doll Bones, too. I'm glad to hear great things about Ghost Hawk. That Scott Lynch series is really great. I think I enjoyed the second book even more than the first.

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    1. My husband & son both love the Lynch series! And I loved Ghost Hawk.

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  9. I read The Girl on The Train while I was in London - that was a lovely reading experience. :)

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    1. How perfect! I love reading a book appropriate to the location where I am traveling :)

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  10. I'm sorry you've been having a rough time. I hope you're feeling better soon.

    If the Oceans Were Ink sounds great! I'm adding it to my list.

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