It's a cold, dark, wet day outside my window - not loving November so far! Last week was super busy (yes, again!), but I finally managed to write two reviews during the week. Of course, we always make time for reading - here's what we read last week:
- I finally finished Bill Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927, a nonfiction book that I started for one of my book groups. I considered setting it down several times but ended up sticking with it to the very end. It's an interesting book, filled with fascinating facts about American history (I think my husband's getting sick of hearing me quote facts!), but it does run too long, and it feels like he packed a bit too much into it. Full review to come.
- After reading two long nonfiction books in a row, I was ready for some light reading! I chose Haunters by Thomas Taylor, a teen/YA novel about a group of teens that can time travel via their dreams. It's good so far - and fast-paced for a change!
- I finished listening to Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson on audio. It's a memoir written in verse and is being marketed as a middle-grade children's book, but it's one of those unique books that will be enjoyed by all ages. Wow. I just can't say enough about this book. It's a wonderful story of growing up in the 60's and 70's, her family torn between the north and the south, but it's her writing that really makes it special. Just an amazing book. Review to come.
- Now, I am listening to The Doubt Factory by Paolo Bacigalupi, a teen/YA thriller. I'm not far enough into it yet to know much about the story, but it's good so far - fast-paced and intriguing.
- My husband, Ken, finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, a book I had been recommending to him for years. He enjoyed it very much (who hasn't?).
- Last night, Ken was having trouble choosing his next book to read, so he took a recommendation from our college son who was home for the night and started The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. This is one of our son's all-time favorites.
Review of Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang, a teen/YA novel
Review of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, a nonfiction book
Saturday Snapshot, with photos of our last burst of brilliant fall color here
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.
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| Sunlight filtering through brightly colored leaves |
My husband has One Summer on his kindle but neither of us have picked it up yet. I just haven't felt in the mood for it, I guess. Thanks for the heads-up about it being a bit long, so I won't feel guilty if I skim through some.
ReplyDeleteI'd gotten another positive rec on The Lies of Locke Lamora from another blogger this summer so maybe I should check it out when I'm in the mood for some fantasy. Thanks for sharing your books.
Definitely skimmable! A friend of mine who was also reading it for our book group said about halfway through she started just reading the first sentence of every paragraph! I read most of it but admit to skimming some of the boxing and baseball sections ;)
DeleteMy son says that's the best fantasy book ever! He's recommended it or bought it as a gift for several friends.
Sue
I've got One Summer on my list for this week. Have had it for ages but it's hardback and so I keep putting it off for books I can put in my bag when I'm out and about. There are a lot of pages!
ReplyDeleteIt is a big one! Interesting but long - feel free to skim some section that are less interesting to you!
DeleteSue
I would concur that ONE SUMMER is a bit wordy. My hubby and I listened to it on a family trip to Boise and back via the Burns desert in Eastern Oregon. The tedium of the drive and the tedium of the facts put me to sleep which is unusual, since, as you know I love audiobooks and Bryson. But the information that I learned from it was so well-done. I need to pop over and read your review on THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Super interesting, huh?
ReplyDeleteha ha - I can see that, Anne (One Summer on audio putting you to sleep)! But I did learn a lot.
DeleteSue
An interesting thing has happened. I, too, loved BROWN GIRL DREAMING. But now that it has been two months since I read it it has diminished in my memory. What I first thought was a spectacular book now seems like just a plain old good one. We'll see how it simmers in your memory over time.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Anne - this one REALLY blew me away. Besides listening to it on audio, I also requested a hard copy from the library so I could look at the way she laid out the poems and copy down some quotes. It actually inspired my own writing last week, too - I noticed how she told a whole story by focusing on minute details and so tried to mimic that approach in an essay I wrote last week - it turned out great!
DeleteSue
Yay brown girl dreaming! It is such a beautiful, special book.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, so I am intrigued by his new one.
Enjoy some light reading! Those two NF books were quite hefty :)
Happy reading this week! :)
I always find YA a great choice to break up long books. I look forward to reading your One Summer review!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you liked brown girl dreaming. I agree with you: "Wow." It is dark, wet, and gloomy over here, too. Luckily, books make these days worth it.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about the Bryson. I've heard mixed reviews.
ReplyDeleteTesting bits of books out on your husband made me smile though...Mr Books & I do that all the time...well I do it to Mr Books & he patiently puts down his book to listen :-)
I want to read Brown Girl Dreaming and I loved Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I just put it on my list of sequels I gotta read for top 10 Tuesday cause i loved Flavia!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading so many great things about Brown Girl Dreaming - I hope I find it today as we go Thanksgiving Shopping! :)
ReplyDelete