Monday, March 28, 2016

It's Monday 3/28! What Are You Reading?

Whew. Just got home at 11 pm last night from a weekend spent in Rochester, NY, with my family (and an old friend!) for Easter. It was great to see everyone but as usual, a busy visit. Then, we were up early this morning (well, I was) to get my son and his friends ready for their first solo camping trip for spring break. He and my husband just left to go set up our camper in a state park about an hour away - he and his friends will use it at the beginning of the week, and my husband and I will get a couple of quiet days there at the end of the week. Fun - and probably relaxing later - but lots of rushing around today. Our college son is still home this morning, and I'll take him back to campus after lunch. Like I said, whew!

So, not a lot of reading time last week (or blogging time), but here's what we are all currently reading:
  • I am still reading my next review book for Publishers Weekly, The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood. This is my first Ann Hood novel, and I'm enjoying it. It's about a woman who is still reeling from her husband leaving her for another woman a year ago. She joins her friend's book group and begins to heal, bit by bit, book by book. There is also a gripping side story about her college-aged daughter who is missing in Europe. It's been very good, and I hope to finish it today.
  • Although I don't normally read more than one book at a time, I make an exception for graphic novels because I can dip into them a bit at a time (and they tend to be much quicker reads than regular books).  So, I just started the graphic memoir Something New: Tales From a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley, one of my favorite graphic memoirists.
  • I finished the YA audiobook Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano and absolutely loved it! It's a memoir written by the woman who has played Maria on Sesame Street for over 45 years. Sesame Street started when I was 6 years old, so I grew up on it and then watched it with my own sons. Maria's voice sounds sooo familiar on the audio, and her story was fascinating. I loved every minute and never wanted it to end.
  • My husband, Ken, is reading a Christmas gift from me, The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz. This is the continuation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium series starring the character Lisbeth Salander. We both loved the first three books and hope that this new author is able to fill Larsson's shoes. So far, Ken says it's living up to the first three novels.
  • Today, I am starting a new middle-grade audiobook, The Lightning Queen by Laura Resau, set in the remote Mexican mountains in the 1950's.
  • Jamie, 21, is reading The Good Knight, A Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mystery Book 1 by Sarah Woodbury. He says it combines two of his favorite genres, mystery and fantasy.
 I managed a few blog posts last week before we left town:
TV Tuesday: The Americans, an exciting show that is both a spy thriller and a family drama

A Day in the Life, a summary of a typical day for me for the annual event hosted by Trish at Love, Laughter, Insanity

Middle-Grade Review: A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen, a riveting and fascinating historical novel about the Berlin Wall

Summary of Books Read in February - yes! Before the end of March - I'm making progress.

What are you and your family reading this week?    

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

9 comments:

  1. I hope you are enjoying the new Knisley! I really liked Relish and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of her books.

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    1. I loved Relish, too! I still need to read the 2 that came in between Relish and this new one - our library doesn't have them :(

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  2. Hope the spring camping few days go well, like very much the sound of the book you are reading at present.

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    1. It's good, Kathryn - I bet you'd like it. Camping will be a bit on the chilly side but should be fun! Glad we have a camper with a furnace :)

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  3. I just finished reading The Girl in the Spider's Web and absolutely enjoyed it. Love that it was such a quick and riveting read.

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  4. The Lightning Queen is on my nightstand! I love Resau's work, and I saw her speak about this book. It looks FANTASTIC. Maybe I will get to it this week, although it seems unlikely because I have a few reviews I need to do first. I look forward to your thoughts!

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  5. Sue, I don't know any of these!!! I love graphic novels though, so I am adding that one to my TBR.

    Happy reading this week :)

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