Monday, December 29, 2014

It's Monday 12/29! What Are You Reading?


I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. Our plans changed drastically - we were supposed to be in CT celebrating Christmas with family last weekend and in the Florida Keys right now, enjoying a beach vacation, but with one son with mono and the other with a concussion, we had to cancel all those plans. Instead, we are making the best of things and enjoying a rare quiet holiday season at home!

We had a very Bookish Christmas, as always, and I hope to catch up on some of my reviewing backlog this week so I can start the New Year fresh!

Here's what we're reading this week:
  • I think I saved the best for last this year - I finally started Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, a highly-acclaimed novel that I've wanted to read ever since it came out last year. This unique story about a woman who keeps dying and getting reborn (my favorite kind of plot! See my favorite book, Replay) is so far living up to expectations, and I'm enjoying it immensely.
  • I finished listening to The Jewel by Amy Ewing on audio. It's a teen/YA novel, the start of a new dystopian fantasy series, and was fast-paced and intriguing. I already reviewed it! How's that for a fresh start?
  • I finished Blankets by Craig Thompson, my first-ever graphic novel for adults. I'd read and heard many times that this is one of the best graphic novels ever published, and I enjoyed it. It's an autobiographical story of a boy's difficult childhood and adolescence, and it has a lot of emotional depth.
  • My husband, Ken, read a fun, light book for the holiday week, Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich. We've both read the entire Stephanie Plum series, though he's gotten behind by a few books. I heard him laughing out loud, so I think he enjoyed it - we are both partial to Grandma Mazur and Lula.
  • Last night, Ken started Stephen King's Just After Sunset, a book of short stories that my Dad lent to him (we are a whole family of readers!).
  • Jamie, 20, is still recovering from mono but showing signs of improvement. He finished reading book 2 in Melissa McPhail's A Pattern of Shadow and Light series, The Dagger of Adendigaeth. He's really loving this series.
  • I think Jamie finally started The Passage by Justin Cronin last night, a book we have been telling him he'll love for years! He said he had to be in the right mood for it since lately he's been reading mostly Medieval-type fantasies.
  • Craig, 16, was on "complete brain rest" for his concussion for three weeks, so he turned to audio books in desperation! He claims to hate reading and audio books, but with nothing else to do, he ended up really enjoying listing to the Harry Potter series on audio again. Last week, he finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and then immediately started Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He may never finish that one, though, because on Christmas Day, with a new video game and about 6 days headache-free under his belt, he declared brain rest was over and went back to video games! He started out slowly and cautiously, and thankfully seems to still be doing well (check-up with the concussion clinic tomorrow).
I managed a good bit of blogging last week, in spite of the holiday, because I was home with no travel to get ready for!
Review of Us by David Nicholls on audio, one of my favorite novels and audios of the year!

Review of The Jewel by Amy Ewing, teen/YA audio - dystopian fantasy

A Bookish Christmas - books we gave and received

Saturday Snapshot - a few pics from a walk in the sunshine this week

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.  


Christmas morning!
   

13 comments:

  1. I'm glad your Christmas was great even though you had to give up your travel plans. I hope both boys are healing and getting healthy. I read and enjoyed The Jewel and am looking forward to sequels. You can see my week here. Have a great week and happy new year!

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    1. I'm looking forward the the sequel to The Jewel, too - I was a little disappointed that it ended without any resolution at all. Happy New Year, Kathy!

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  2. Great Christmas photo! Thanks for sharing it. I'm sorry to hear your boys are not doing to well lately. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks, Pat - Happy New Year to you, too!

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  3. I had to chuckle reading about your son claiming to hate reading and audiobooks and then getting sucked into Harry Potter. I think J.K. Rowling may be the ultimate literary gateway drug!

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    1. ha ha - yes, Melinda. He actually read the first book (back before he became so stubborn aka a teen!), watched all the movies, and listened to several of the audiobooks in the car with us before he refused to anymore. But it was funny how hooked he got on them again the past few weeks. he even said to his brother, "The books are so much better than the movies!" And his avid reader brother said, "I've been telling you that for years!" lol Alas, now he is back to video games...

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  4. Glad to hear you all enjoyed your Christmas despite illness & injury.
    Happy reading!

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  5. Love your bookish Christmas post!
    Glad to hear you liked Blankets. I want to read it, but just haven't gotten to it. You should try Stitches or Persepolis for your next adult GN.

    Happy new year, and happy reading this week! :)

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  6. The Passage! I have had that on my list for far too long! My TBR list always grows after I read your blog. I know I have said this before, but I love how you include what your sons are reading. The picture from Christmas morning is delightful. Thank you for the wonderful year, Sue. A very happy new year to you! :)

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  7. I really liked Life After Life. I can't wait to hear what you think.

    I hope both of your boys are feeling better and you all have a happy New Year's!

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  8. I had Mono in college. No fun. Glad to hear your son is doing better. The Jewel sounds interesting, I will have to check it out. Happy New Year!

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  9. I'm glad you are enjoying Life After Life. I finished it 1 1/2 years ago and have been giving it away as gifts ever since. I've added Blanket to my to reads list for 2015!

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