Monday, August 10, 2015

It's Monday 8/10! What Are You Reading?


Whew, another super-busy week. I finally had some time to work on catching up after our month away in July - writing, picking up the house, household management, etc. Lots of urgent must-do's last week!

But we always have books to help us slow down and relax. Here's what we read last week:
  • I finished reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, which was my fifth Big Book of the Summer! Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoyed this novel very much - it was a perfect summer read, set in the hills of Virginia.
  • Now I am reading my sixth and final Big Book of the Summer, Anne of Green Gables by H. M. Montgomery. Can you believe I have never before read this childhood classic? I am enjoying it very much so far and am totally in love with the precocious, talkative Anne!
  • I am almost (not quite) finished listening to Crows and Cards by Joseph Helgerson, a free download from SYNC this summer. It is a middle-grade audio book set in 1849 about a twelve-year old boy who gets involved with riverboat gamblers. It's been a lot of fun, with a great audio production (it's hard to set that down and then switch to reading a regular book because I still hear that southern accent narrating in my head!)
  • My husband, Ken, finished The Third Option by Vince Flynn last night. I think I may have gotten this suspense novel in last summer's reading program at our local library (we are both raking in the free books again this summer!).
  • Now, Ken has started Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, sequel to The Lies of Locke Lamora (in the Gentleman Bastards series!) Our son loved these books and now Ken is enjoying them, too.
  • Jamie, 20, is reading The Barrow by Mark Smylie, an epic fantasy novel that he's enjoying so far.
Lots of catch-up on the blog last week, too:
Choose Your Next Book From Awards Lists! a summary with links of the major book awards

Review of One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus, historical fiction

Saturday Snapshot 8/8 - August in bloom in my neighborhood

Weekend Cooking 8/9 - Easy, Tasty Meals with Paleo Options

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
 
   

Just 3 weeks left of summer, but you still have time to join the fun with the Big Book Summer Challenge! 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!

And if you are already signed up, remember to add your reviews to the review list at the link (the second links list).


16 comments:

  1. Reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time must be so fun! I loved those books as a child and have my battered paperback copies to prove it!

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    1. I am really enjoying it - don;t know how I missed it for so long!

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  2. I adored Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer! All the interesting side stories were fascinating.... I HIGHLY recommend The Lacuna - it's my favorite of her books.
    My list: http://www.allensteachingfiles.com/2015/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-81015.html?showComment=1439218938100#c6362882375826311729

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation, Corrina! The Lacuna is probably the ONLY Kingsolver book I haven't read yet - thanks!

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  3. Prodigal Summer is one of my favourite Kingsolver titles. I'm so glad you've met Anne. Back when I was younger I read the entire series. Isn't it interesting that Japanese tourists flock to PEI to visit the home of H. M. Montgomery?

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    1. I haven't read Anne of Green Gables either! I've watched the movie a thousand times though. I didn't realize it was a big book!

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    2. ha ha Cherlee - I had no idea Anne was popular in Japan, too! I am enjoying it very much so far.

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    3. Haven;t ever seen the movie, either Helen!

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  4. I never read Anne of Green Gables--is that horrible?! I know that she is LOVED by people, but the premise never sucked me in. You'll need to let me know if I am really missing out.

    Happy reading this week! :)

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    1. Same here, Kellee! We missed out - it;s a wonderful book so far, and Anne is such a great character! I think if you read it, you would have added her to your list of 25 girls last week ;)

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  5. I had never read Anne of Green Gables before either! Then a YA book club I was part of had it on the list for March of this year. What a fun story! The rest of the series is on my to-be-read list now. :)

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    1. I'd like to read the rest of the series, too, Carrie!

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  6. I just read Anne of Green Gables a year or two ago. I felt the same way...a sort of shame for not getting to until adulthood. I remember liking Prodigal Summer after I read it but actually it has slipped behind her more recent Lacuna, Flight Behavior, and her classic Poisonwood Bible. Where would you rank it?

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    1. Poisonwood Bible is in my top 10 books of all time, Anne! Riveting, thought-provoking, and so very clever. Bean Trees and Pigs in heaven are a close second - LOVED them. I would put Prodigal Summer next - it was good (better the longer I read), engaging, endearing characters, though she tended to get a little preachy at times. Same with Flight Behavior - good story, bit preachy sometimes - I actually agree with her views and a big outdoors person but she can lay it on a bit thick at times! I haven't read Lacuna yet. I also read a collection of her personal essays that I would like to reread.

      Sue

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  7. Are you currently reading Bone Gap? If so keep your eyes out for all the references to Greek Mythology. I missed them first go round. I think you read my review before, but just in case, here is the link back to it:
    http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-bone-gap-by-laura-ruby.html

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    1. I am listening to Bone Gap on audio - just started yesterday. I probably wouldn't notice a reference to mythology if it slapped me in the face! lol All I know about Greek mythology I learned from Percy Jackson!

      I will check out your review.

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