Monday, May 25, 2015

It's Monday 5/25! What Are You Reading?


It was another hectic week ('tis the season!), but my husband and I had a nice, relaxing holiday weekend mostly on our own. We've taken walks and a hike, had good friends over for dinner, and just spent some down time recovering from the busy week.

I also launched my annual Big Book Summer Challenge this weekend, so be sure to check it out and join the fun!

And, as always, we enjoyed our books this week:
  • I finished Blue Lily, Lily Blue, book 3 in the Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater. I love this series! The third book was just as good as the previous ones and now I am ready for book 4.
  • To kick off my own Big Book Summer, I started reading A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson, companion novel to Life After Life which I read in January and immediately added to my list of Best Books Ever! My husband gave me this book for Mother's Day, and it will count as my first Big Book of the summer. It is different from Life After Life but totally engrossing.
  • I have been listening to Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, a teen/YA novel, on audio. This was one of my downloads from the first week of SYNC - be sure to check out this great source for free YA and classic audio books all summer long! They feature a new pair of audio downloads (one modern YA paired with one classic) each week. This is only week 3, so you still have plenty of time. So far, I am enjoying this popular YA novel that I somehow missed before. The story and excellent audio production have been riveting.
  • My husband, Ken, finished Enclave by Ann Aguirre, the first book in her YA Razorland trilogy. Our son recently read this novel and enjoyed it. I still need to read it!
  • Ken has also gotten into the spirit of the Big Book Summer Challenge and started A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin, the fourth book in the Game of Thrones series. He says this one could take him all summer to finish!
  • Jamie, 20, has been overwhelmed with end-of-the-semester work (almost done!). He said he was reading Mountain Man by Keith C. Blackmore, a book his dad lent him, but then it disappeared from his Kindle (possibly it was a loaner and the time ran out). He says he is now reading the second book in a Robin Hood series, though I'm not sure what the title is. He should finish up the last of his projects today and then will go on a reading binge!
 Lots of reviews and other posts last week:
2015 Big Book Summer Challenge - Sign up and Join the Fun!

Review of Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli, a graphic novel

Summary of Books Read in April

Review of Get in Trouble by Kelly Link, a short story collection

My Big Book Summer 2015 - the books that I plan to read for my challenge

Saturday Snapshot 5/23 - flowers in our yard and neighborhood, welcoming summer!

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
 
   

The Big Book Summer Challenge just started - you have plenty of time to join the fun! You only need to read 1 book (though you can read more if you want) longer than 400 pages to participate. And this year, for the first time, there'll be a Big Book Giveaway at the end of the summer for participants!




9 comments:

  1. I'm waiting for A God In Ruins. I just loved Life After Life and purchased copies of it to give away to many friends and family members.

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    1. I loved it, too, Cherlee! A God in Ruins is great so far though different (no reliving lives this time).

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  2. Everyone raves about the Raven Boy series by Stiefvater. I really need to pick it up! I own all three, I believe, I just need to get around to reading them.
    Enclave was SO GOOD. I haven't read the rest of the trilogy yet (it wasn't out when I read the first), but I know I want to at some point.
    Happy almost summer to your boys! Soon they will be free to read all the want :)

    Happy reading this week! :)

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    1. Oooh... I will have to move Enclave up my list! And, yes, read The Raven Boys! my 20-yo son and I love it.

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  3. Hi! I am glad you are enjoying the Stiefvater books. I think I am most excited for her to start a new series. I've enjoyed this one, but I love her other books so, so much. I hope you enjoy Beautiful Creatures! I decided to start my AudioSync listening with Dodger. I am not sure where I will head next with my downloads. Have a terrific reading week!

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    1. My favorite is the Shiver series - I was SO not interested in the plot summary and then quickly read through all 3 books - couldn't put them down! Scorpio Races is still on my TBR shelves!

      Enjoying SYNC so far - loving Beautiful Creatures! Saving Dodger and a few others for when my husband and I go on vacation this summer.

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  4. Vedika Giridhar4:26 AM

    Still reading Anne of Green Gables- only a few pages left! I'm starting Waiting for Anya[ Michael Morpurgo] today as well

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  5. I just listened to HERE IN HARLEM, from the 2nd week of SYNC downloads. LOVE it...but then I am a real sucker for poetry. Next up for me X: a Novel. I missed the downloads from week one but I think I've listened to both book already.

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