Monday, August 31, 2015

It's Monday 8/31! What Are You Reading?


Whew, rough week. Super busy again with both sons in and out all week (college son moved back to his apartment Tuesday), plus I didn't feel well at the end of the week. Still not feeling well - worst flare-up of my chronic illness that I've had in quite a while. I finally listened to my body and rested on Sunday, but I am still feeling pretty awful.

Anyway, we all enjoyed our books last week, amid the chaos:
  • I finished What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott, a teen/YA thriller that I chose from my overflowing TBR shelves. It lived up to its creepy title and cover and kept me turning the pages in suspense. I'm almost glad I can no longer manage backpacking!
  • I am now reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, a birthday gift from my husband. I figured I should get to it while everyone is still talking about it! I am loving it so far - it is like settling back in with a good friend after a long absence. I love the way she weaves in minute details to make the characters and action seem completely real. I read a section last night where Jean Louise (Scout) is remembering playing childhood games with Jem and Dill, and it left a big smile on my face.
  • I finished listening to Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, a classic I downloaded from SYNC this summer that I have been meaning to read for years. My husband and I started it on vacation, but he lost interest in the slow pace, so I finished it on my own. I told him it really picked up in the second half, with several twists that I never saw coming!
  • I just finished uploading All Fall Down by Ally Carter, a teen/YA novel, to my iPod so I will start listening to that in a half hour when I drive to get my hair cut.
  • My husband, Ken, is reading Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, the second book in a series that he and our son have both enjoyed.
  • Jamie, 21, is reading Malice by John Gwynne, Book 1 of The Faithful and the Fallen series, an epic fantasy novel of the type he loves! Now that he is back at school, I suspect his time for reading will drop steeply!
  • Craig, 17, has finally started his required summer reading: Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, a novel I really enjoyed, for his World Lit class. It's slow going for him so far - he's not exactly thrilled to be reading this novel! Not a lot of action.
Not many blog posts last week, and I didn't write a single review! I read 7 books in August and haven't reviewed a single one yet - running behind, as usual. Here are my two posts from last week  (the first one explains why I had no writing time!):
The Big Book Clean-Out! - helping my college son find his bedroom floor

Saturday Snapshot 8/29 - sky and clouds

What are you and your family reading this week?    

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey (who is currently on hiatus), with a kid/teen version hosted by Unleashing Readers
 
   

Remember if you signed up for the Big Book Summer Challenge, you can add your reviews of Big Books to the review list at the link (the second links list). Just 1 week of summer left, so finish those Big Books!


8 comments:

  1. I still am not sure if I want to read Go Set A Watchman, maybe when it's out in paperback? Glad to hear what you wrote about it, though. Take care & hope all things go well the rest of the week.

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    1. Linda - I am really enjoying it so far!

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  2. I never liked To Kill a Mockingbird, so don't intend to read Watchman. Was disappointed in All Fall Down. U characteristically depressing for Carter. Haven't seen Scott's thriller; will have to take a look! Got my daughter off to college yesterday.

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    1. Wow, I think you are the first person I have ever heard say you didn't like To Kill a Mockingbird!

      My college son started classes today; high school son starts tomorrow!

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  3. I definitely want to read the Harper Lee book, but keep forgetting to get ahold of it!

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    1. I was lucky, Helen - my birthday was the week it was released so my husband got it for me.

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  4. I felt the same way as your husband about Rebecca, although I read the whole thing since it was for book club. Too slow and long for me. What Waits in the Woods sounds very good. And I will someday read Go Set a Watchman, but first I need to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird since I haven't read it in about 30 years!

    I'm reading a big book this week. Determined to finish it by Labor Day so it counts!!

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  5. Some of my book club members had the same reservation about Go Set a Watchman as Linda - they claimed they're not up to reading it. But I am looking forward to it once it is released in soft bound version.

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