We spent a very nice weekend at my mom's house in Connecticut for Mother's Day (and her birthday which is also this week). Lots of fun and a nice Mother's Day but also exhausting! Glad to be home but feeling pretty overwhelmed. This is always a tough time of year, with lots of school events, etc. My youngest son graduates from high school in one month! Yikes, how did that happen?
In spite of our busy-ness, we still enjoyed our books:
- I finished The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez in time for my book group last week. This one has been waiting patiently on my shelf for a full year, since I met the author last year at Booktopia VT. It's an amazing story about immigrants in modern America, but I especially love that the author is from the same town we live in, and the novel is set right here in Delaware (a rarity for our small state!). It was excellent & we had a great discussion.
- Now, I am reading A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. This novel was the choice for my library's discussion this Wednesday. There's no way I will finish it in time, but I had been wanting to read it ever since its release, so I'm glad to have an excuse 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).
- I finished listening to Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart, a middle-grade historical novel set in 1890 Washington state about a young boy who's an orphan and then loses his horse to an unscrupulous horse trader. Since the horse is all he has left of his family, he sets out on a journey to get her back, accompanied by a young orphaned Chinese boy. It was very good.
- Now, I am 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, finished The Crossing by Michael Connelly, a cross-over novel starring both of his famous characters, Harry Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer (if you are a Bosch fan, check out my review of the Bosch TV show). He said this was one of Connelly's best!
- Now, 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. He had plenty of reading time in the car this weekend!
- 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). He says he "doesn't get it" so far...which is exactly why this is an excellent book for high school kids to read! The Islamic Revolution and the overthrow of the Shah happened long before he was born. So, my husband and I have been trying to explain some of what was going on, and how those events were a precurser to much of the current conflict in the Middle East. Should make for some great discussions in his class.
Movie Monday: Bad Movies - those movies that are SO bad they're fun to watch!
TV Tuesday: When Good Shows Get Cancelled - some of our faves only lasted one season!
Middle-Grade Book Review: The Lightning Queen by Laura Resau - moving & magical
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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| My mom and I walking at the beach Saturday |
A Tale for the Time Being sounds really good, and great to be able to discuss with readers too. Great Mom and you photo. Breathe deeply and enjoy all that is happening - slowly!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Kathryn - that's excellent advice!!
DeleteI've been meaning to read both books you mentioned!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a great Mother's Day with your mom and your kids!
Thanks, Lindsey - hope you had a good Mother's Day, too!
DeleteGreat picture! Happy Mother's Day! Wow! I didn't realize your youngest was about to graduate. How exciting!
ReplyDeleteMy book club also discussed The Book of Unknown Americans, I think maybe last year. It was a good discussion book. I enjoyed Persepolis, so I hope your son does too. I'm sure it's a better way to learn about that time in history than a boring textbook!
Have a good week!
Yes, hard to believe we will have 2 in college in August!!
DeleteWe had a good discussion of Unknown Americans, too.
Totally agree - I love when kids learn history from literature and non-traditional means!
Persepolis is brilliant! I loved reading the whole series!
ReplyDeleteI want to read the new Gemeinhart novel--I loved The Honest Truth!
Happy reading this week :)
Oh, I'd forgotten she wrote a second follow-up memoir to Persepolis - I need to read that!
DeleteAhh! I live in CT! It looks like your mom lives by the shore. I was just in Mystic last week visiting the aquarium with Henry. To think we were so close! :)
ReplyDeleteSo funny, Ricki - I always think you live in FL because Kellee does, but I think I knew you were in CT! My mom is in Norwalk and my sister is in Newington, near Hartford. Mystic is awesome! My mom and her husband keep their sailboat in Stonington (and store it in the winter in Mystic). Maybe we can meet in person one day!
DeleteHappy you had a nice weekend, but all those e-mails! Sorry! Thanks for posting such a variety of books. I loved Persepolis, think it should be in every classroom for older students. The Book of Unknown Americans is one I'm glad to know! Thanks, Sue.
ReplyDeleteI agree - Persepolis is a great one for HS classrooms.
DeleteDefinitely try Unknown Americans - it was great!
It's great that you enjoyed Mother's Day! Enjoy your week of emails and reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks - had a good Mother's Day but could do without the emails!
DeleteI've looked over both of those books at the bookstore. I'd like to read both. I'll be looking forward to your review.
ReplyDeleteBoth are/were great so far!
DeleteI LOVED, loved, loved A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING but only one other gal in my book club liked it. I listened to the audiobook, so if you get bogged down, quick switch to audio. It was a wonderful experience. Play around with the title, emphasizing different words and the meaning of the title will shift. Is it a tale for right now or is it a tale for THE TIME BEING? Hmm? Ponder that.
ReplyDeleteThe slavery book you are reading is on my long summer list. Not sure if I will actually get to it unless you rave about it and think it would a good high school book. I'll wait with baited breath.