It's Monday 11/16! What Are You Reading?

What a weekend we had! We drove halfway to Virginia Friday night for a college visit for our son and then decided to turn around and go back home! It was a long way to go for dinner - ha ha. He had a sinus infection, and I have another bout of bronchitis that came on really fast - we thought we could still manage our trip, but after a couple of hours on the road, we were both getting worse and realized it was stupid to keep going. So, our road trip weekend turned into a lot of driving Friday night and the rest of the weekend at home on the couches! Lots of reading and TV, resting and relaxing. And now, our college son is home, too, with both sinuses and chest congested. At least, our high school son is doing better and is at school today.


So, lots of reading time this weekend! Here's what we've been reading this past week:

• I finished The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls in time for my neighborhood book group. We all enjoyed The Glass Castle and Half-Broke Horses, and this is her first fully fictional novel, about two sisters whose mother abandons them, set in 1970. I really loved it - great characters, fun setting, and an interesting story.
• With my two book group reads behind me, I had to jump into my next review book for Publisher's Weekly: The Dogs of Littlefield by Suzanne Berne. It's a tongue-in-cheek look at modern suburban life, in a town that was voted one of the 20 Best Places to Live but now has someone posioning its dogs. This was my first Berne novel, and I enjoyed her in-depth characters and insightful descriptions of everyday life. The review is due today, so that's why my Monday post is later than usual. Thank goodness my brain is clear, even though my chest and sinuses are not!
• I have been listening to Challenger Deep by Neal Schusterman, one of my favorite authors. This teen/YA novel about a teen boy struggling with schizophrenia was nominated for the National Book Award this year. It is absolutely captivating - totally engrossing. I am almost finished already.
• My husband, Ken is reading A Dance with Dragons, Book 5 in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series and 1150 pages! He and our son LOVE these books. He says Book 5 is better than Book 4 so far.
• Jamie, 21, is reading The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum, Book 2 in The Necromancer Chronicles series.

 My posts on the blog last week:

Movie Monday: Up Heartbreak Hill, a fascinating documentary about modern Navajo teens deciding whether to go away to college or stay on the reservation

TV Tuesday: Limitless, a new show based on the movie that my husband, son, and I are all enjoying

Fiction Review: The Three by Sarah Lotz, a creepy and unique suspense novel

Fiction Review A Paper Son by Jason Bucholz, a unique blend of historical fiction, modern realistic fiction, and magical realism that I loved.

Teen/YA Review: The Cemetery Boys by Heather (Zac) Brewer, a realistic story of a teen boy layered over a town's spooky myth

Saturday Snapshot - Fall's Last Hurrah - our camping/kayaking trip last weekend

What are you and your family reading this week?    

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.