It's Monday 7/18! What Are You Reading?

Back to semi-normal around here last week. We came back from our mini vacation at Shenandoah National Park (first round of photos here), our sons came back from sailing with their grandparents, and our older son moved back to campus to start summer session. It's been busy around here, but we are enjoying summer, too.

Here's what we've all been reading this past week:

• I am still reading a book group selection, Snow Falling On Cedars by David Guterson. I have never read this award-winning novel before (though I saw the movie adaptation years ago), even though it's been on my Kindle for years. It's a very descriptive novel about a Japanese-American man accused of murder in the years after the Japanese Internment and the events leading up to that time. It takes place on an island off the coast of Washington, and the setting is vividly described, almost like another character in the story. I'm enjoying it so far, but it is a dense book, so it's slower going than I expected.
• I am still listening to The Secret Language of Sisters by Luanne Rice, a teen/YA novel about one of two sisters who is paralyzed in a car crash and has locked-in syndrome. I'm almost finished, and it's been very good. I texted with my 18-year old cousin yesterday about it - I gave her a copy of the same book (I had both book and audio) when she visited last month. She enjoyed it, too, and we are both determined never to text and drive or text someone else who is driving!
• My husband, Ken, is still reading The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, a book I enjoyed for book group last year (my review at the link) and heard the author speak for our local library's All-County Reads program this spring. He's been wanting to read it for a while and seems to be enjoying it.
• I don't know what Jamie, 21, is reading right now, though I'm sure he read on the sailboat (not so much time for reading now that he's back in school). I was just going to text him and ask, but he's in class right now - is that a good enough reason to interrupt his class, to ask what he's reading??

Lots of blog posts last week, trying to catch up after vacation:

Movie Monday: Twinsters, a joyful documentary about two people finding each other

TV Tuesday: The Last Ship, one of our favorites, a post-apocalyptic story filled with drama

Middle-Grade Graphic Novel Review: Bera the One-Headed Troll by Eric Orchard, a warm adventure story

Teen/YA Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, a strange, supernatural story with plenty of suspense

Saturday Snapshot: Shenandoah National Park, Part 1 - pics from our recent trip - camping & hiking Stony Man Trail - more next week from this amazing park!

Middle-Grade Review: Pax by Sara Pennypacker, a warm, suspenseful, intricate story of the unbreakable bond between a boy and his pet fox

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.

There is still plenty of time to join the Big Book Summer Reading Challenge - eight weeks of summer left! Just click the link to read the rules - super-easy for summer! You only need to read one "big book" (400 pages or more) before September to participate. Join the fun, choose your Big Book(s) & sign up today!