Monday, August 22, 2016

It's Monday 8/22! What Are You Reading?

I missed my Monday post last week while we were in South Dakota on vacation (you can check out the first of my photos), so I have a lot to update! Vacation last week was brief but fun, and now we are busy, busy, busy getting our sons ready to move to college at the end of the week (first time for our youngest).

Here's what we've been reading:
  • I just yesterday finished my third Big Book of the Summer, Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, a novel I have been wanting to read ever since its release and that's been sitting on my bookcase since Christmas. WOW. What an amazing, completely original book! I've never read another novel like it. It's a series of separate stories that link together in unexpected ways, like a jigsaw puzzle you put together without knowing what the final picture will be. I will attempt to write a cohesive review this week, though I really just want to shout, "You must read this amazing book!" to everyone.
  • I just started a new review book for Publishers Weekly last night, Moor by Gunther Geltinger, a novel translated from German. I'm a bit cautious because the word "experimental" was used on the back cover blurb! It sounds intriguing, though, about a teen boy with a severe stutter who lives with his mother, with a heavy focus on nature. I'll let you know!
  • On the audio front, I finished listening to Dreamology by Lucy Keating, a teen/YA audio book that was far more intriguing and engrossing than I expected. It explores the line between dreaming and reality when a teen girl starts at a new school and meets face-to-face with the boy she's been dreaming about for years. 
  • Now, I am listening to Unbecoming by Jenny Downham, another teen/YA novel. This one is set in the UK and focuses on three generations of women in one family who all carry secrets. Teen Katie's life changes dramatically when Mary, her previously unknown grandmother, comes into their lives unexpectedly. Mary has dementia and requires a lot of care, and Katie's mother, Caroline, doesn't talk much about the past. It's excellent so far.
  • My husband, Ken, finished Shift by Hugh Howey, book 2 in the Wool series. He and I both LOVED Wool (review at the link), which several friends had said, "you must read!" They were right! I gave Ken the second book for Father's Day, and I can't wait to read it, too!
  • Now, Ken is reading The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin, the third and final book in the trilogy that started with The Passage (followed by The Twelve). This was another Father's Day gift that we are both eager to read! 
  • Jamie, 22, got a new Kindle Paperwhite for his birthday last week and re-read Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings, book 1 in the Stormlight Archive and then read book 2, Words of Radiance. The first one was 1200 pages long, and the second one was 1300 pages, so he is definitely in the Big Book Summer groove! Good fodder for very long days of air travel.
  • Now, Jamie is re-reading an old favorite series, another one by Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn trilogy. Has has finished Mistborn and The Well of Ascension, and is reading book 3, The Hero of Ages. These few weeks between summer session and the start of fall semester are his reading time!
  • Craig, 18, has been reading his All-Freshman summer reading book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka. Ironically, he read this same book for his summer reading assignment when he was entering his freshman year of high school. He doesn't enjoy reading much but is so excited to start college that he doesn't seem to mind re-reading this one! I think he's finished it...?
A few posts from the past two weeks, in between trips:
Movie Monday: Star Trek Beyond, a great addition to the canon!

TV Tuesday: What We're Watching This Summer, a summary of our favorite shows this season

Summary of Books Read in July - a good reading month for me!

Fiction Review: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, a classic journey into the unknown

Teen/YA Review: Dreamology by Lucy Keating, a romance that explores the line between dreaming and reality

6 Amazing Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, my first article on My Itchy Travel Feet website

Saturday Snapshot: Black Hills of South Dakota, Part 1 - highlights from our recent trip

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.


Just two week of summer left, so if you are participating in the Big Book Summer Reading Challenge, be sure to post your Big Book reviews on the challenge page!
 
My family and I at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, SD

17 comments:

  1. Welcome back from vacation! I would love to travel through the Dakota's one day. I am behind on things. I did not realize that The Passage was the first in a trilogy. It looks like I have a couple of books to find! I just sent my first (and only) girl off to college this weekend. The house sure is quiet, but we are learning to enjoy it.

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    1. So beautiful and unique out there, Kay! Hope you can get there one day. Yes, definitely check out the rest of the trilogy - The Twelve was great, and I can't wait to read the 3rd book! I'm sure I will miss the boys, but right now, I am looking forward to that quiet!!

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  2. I need to read the Wool series! I just saw Unbecoming on my bookshelves. I wonder if I kept or decided to cull it. Hummm.

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    1. Oh, my gosh, Wool is SO amazing!! You will love it. Unbecoming is excellent so far, too.

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  3. Cloud Atlas is certainly a chunkster! Did you see that they found really major differences between the US and UK version? It's such an interesting story!

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    1. Oooh....no, I hadn't heard that! How intriguing! Thanks for the heads up - I will look that up this week.

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  4. Cloud Atlas has been on my shelf for ages but I have been intimidated by its size.

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    1. It's not that bad - just over 500 pages. My son just finished reading 2 books that were 1200 & 1300 pages each! lol

      It is well worth the time to read it - you won't ever want it to end!

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  5. What a group of interesting books.Great that Cloud Atlas turned out to be such a good book for you.

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn - I'd heard such good things about it & it really lived up to the hype.

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  6. You've listed quite a lot of intriguing books! I took a break in June from books and am still just reading magazines. My husband on the other hand is flying through book after book that he picked up at a library book sale. Happy reads!

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    1. Allison - I splurge on magazine reading on road trips. I can't read books in the car, but I can flip through magazines - it's like my guilty pleasure in the car - I actually look forward to long drives! Sounds like your husband is enjoying his books this summer!

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  7. Time for everyone to settle in, I guess. Hope you had a good trip. I've noted Cloud Atlas, Sue. Will seek it out!

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    1. Yes, that time of year. Honestly, it's been so chaotic & hectic here, I am counting the days until the house is quiet next week!

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  8. Cloud Atlas! You are really rocking the big books this summer! I am proud of you!

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    1. Thanks, Ricki! That's nice to hear because I am way behind where I planned to be with my Big Books this summer - just too many reading obligations at the start of the summer. I still hope to squeeze in The Marvels before Labor Day!

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  9. You had a great blogging fortnight! Dreamology is now officially on my TBR list- I'm really looking forward to it.

    Have a great week ahead!

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