We had a very full weekend, with two celebrations for my father-in-law's 91st birthday, my son's prom (#2 this spring), his soccer game, and a big family dinner Saturday night. Yesterday, I got my college son ready to go back to school for the week, my husband and his dad left for an overnight trip to Atlantic City, my younger son went to work...and I was all alone in the quiet house! Finally caught up on my e-mail backlog, went through some of the paper clutter that collected this week, and enjoyed a movie (watch for a review later today for Movie Monday!).
Amidst all that activity, we enjoyed our books this week:
- I was reading - and thoroughly enjoying! - A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki but I had to temporarily set it aside. I had been wanting to read it ever since its release, so I was glad to finally get to it. I am loving it so far - an intricate, interwoven story about a Japanese teenager and a woman writer in British Columbia (I love stories about connections). However, I had to set it aside to start a review book that is due soon. I really hate to stop in the middle of a good book! I don't know how some people read multiple books at a time - I just can't manage that.
- So, now I have turned my attention to Marriage on the Street Corners of Tehran: A Novel Based on the True Stories of Temporary Marriage by Nadia Shahram, my review book for Publishers Weekly. So far, it is an engrossing but disturbing novel about a young girl in Iran in the 1980's who is married off to an abusive older man when she is only 12 years old (and she's one of the older child brides mentioned here!). Parts of the book are hard to read, but so far, it is a powerful and compelling story.
- I am still listening to a teen/YA novel, My Name is Not Friday by Jon Walter, about a free black boy during the Civil War who is sold into slavery and taken to the South. It's an engrossing story so far.
- My husband, Ken, is reading The Cell by Stephen King, one of many King books we inherited from my dad. Ken is partway through and pretty sure he's read this one before! We always traded books back and forth with my dad, so it's quite possible my dad lent it to him years ago when he first read it.
- Jamie, 21, has been re-reading the first two books in the A Pattern of Shadow and Light trilogy by Melissa McPhail: he finished Cephrael's Hand and is now reading The Dagger of Adendigaeth, in preparation for reading book 3. With finals starting this week and projects due today and tomorrow, he hasn't had much reading time!
- Craig, 18, is reading Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, a wonderful graphic memoir about growing up in Iran during the Revolution there, for his World Lit class (I read it last year - see my review at the link). Should make for some great discussions in his class!
TV Tuesday: Catastrophe - a unique & hilarious comedy on Amazon Prime.
Graphic Memoir Review: Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley - her latest book about her wedding.
Free YA and Classic Audiobooks All Summer! - I love downloading these free audiobooks - it's already started, so join the fun!
Saturday Snapshot: May in My Neighborhood - some late spring blooms.
Fiction Review: The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens - a fast-paced but thoughtful thriller that my book group enjoyed.
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.
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| Me, my sons & husband with my father-in-law on his birthday |
I love that your whole family appear to be big readers! My husband and daughter read when they have time. My son reads when he's made to for school. Otherwise he'd rather be on the computer or playing sports.
ReplyDeleteAll the books you mentioned sound good! I'm going to have to look into all of them. I'm reading a book that takes place in Jordan and I'm loving reading about the culture. I think I might have to seek out more books about cultures I know nothing about.
I'm really interested in the YA Free Audiobooks. I've never listened to a book, but have wondered if I'd be able to pay it enough attention to keep up with what is going on in the book. This would be a great way for me to give it a try!
Carey - my older son is an avid reader, but my younger son (18) is the same as yours - reads only when required to for school! He hates to sit still & would rather be active.
DeleteI love reading about other places & cultures, too. You should check out the Travel the World in Books challenge - it's very loose & easy to join in at any time (and run by a good friend of mine):
http://momssmallvictories.com/travel-the-world-in-books-reading-challenge/
Oh, I love audiobooks! I read twice as many books that way & always have an audio going. With my iPod now, I can listen while I walk, drive, cook, do laundry, etc. (I stick to mindless stuff!)
Sue
Your new book about marriage in Tehran and the YA book My Name Is Not Friday both sound like tough reads, but good, too. Thanks for sharing. After such a busy weekend, I bet you enjoyed your quiet weekend alone. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly, Linda - difficult to read but also so important & engrossing, too.
DeleteI hope you can get back to A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING soon. As I said last week, I am a fan. This week we will discuss ROUND HOUSE by Erdrich in book club. Have you read it? If not, I think you would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely get back to it as soon as I finish the review book - I am LOVING it, Anne!
DeleteI haven't yet read Round House (or anything by Erdrich) but I would like to!
Sue
Marriage on the Street Corners of Tehran and A Tale for the Time Being both sound really good. My daughter and I are going to listen to Stephen King do a reading of his new book in June and are super excited to see him. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteWow!! So exciting! I would love to see Stephen King in person. I love going to author talks/readings. Enjoy!
DeleteI have heard of the Ruth Ozeki book and mentally thought of needing to read it! Must have a look, I bet I have it marked on Goodreads. Lovely photo, looks like 91 and going strong. Some good genes in that male line!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying it, Kathryn.
DeleteYes, he is doing pretty well for 91!
Persepolis is brilliant! How marvelous to have a family of readers.
ReplyDeleteYes, I liked it, too! Glad my son is reading it for class.
Delete91! How awesome! My g'pa is 90+ also :)
ReplyDeleteI love a quiet house. I love my family, but I can get so much done when I am alone!
I have My Name is Not Friday on my TBR :)
Happy reading this week!
Yes, exactly!! I love the silence.
DeleteMy daughter had to read Persepolis. She liked it better than To Kill a Mockingbird, which they are STILL trotting out. I've read a couple of Ozeki titles, and they were thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteI liked Persepolis but I LOVE To Kill a Mockingbird! This is the only Ozeki book I'd heard of yet - will have to look for others!
DeleteLove the family photo! Persepolis has been on my list for so, so long. I plan to get to it this year, for sure. I look forward to hearing what your son thinks about it!
ReplyDeleteSo far, he's not impressed! ha ha But he's just not a reader (he's a very good reader but doesn't enjoy it) - he said last night, "Why can't I just watch a documentary on the Iranian Revolution"??
DeleteI loved Persepolis, but I remember it being black and white. Call me shallow, but I like color in my graphic novels.
ReplyDeleteI also like to read five or so books at a time, so I'm just odd.