Monday, November 13, 2017

It's Monday 11/13! What Are You Reading?

Whew, this whole month is incredibly busy! I took the train to Connecticut last week and spent three days with my mom (you can see photos here). We had a very nice visit - played Scrabble, went to a play (Romeo & Juliet), took a walk in a lovely park, ate wonderful food, and talked nonstop! I spent the weekend catching up at home (luckily, I got some writing done on the train - best way to travel!).

Next, we have two more trips coming up - a quick 3-day mini vacation to Florida with our sons and a visit to see family for the holiday. And today, I am driving to Baltimore to see a specialist about one of my medical conditions. It's fairly rare (and very painful, especially during winter), but I have heard this one doctor at Johns Hopkins knows how to treat it, so fingers crossed! I am feeling hopeful.

Now, the important stuff - here's what we've all been reading this week:
  • I finished NightSun by Dan Vining, my next review book for Shelf Awareness. It's a  detective story set in 2025 LA, so it's a combination of suspense and dystopia. It was well-written and compelling, though not a typical mystery/detective story. Now I have to write my review before we start traveling!
  • I finished the graphic memoir, Spinning by Tillie Walden, for Nonfiction November. It's a coming-of-age story about her adolescence as a closeted lesbian heavily involved with figure skating. It was very good and a fascinating peek into the figure skating world.
  • I am now reading another memoir, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen. It's about a woman who was brought up in a strict Mennonite household and leaves her modern life in academia temporarily to go back home after several life-changing events. It's very good and absolutely hilarious so far. I was driving my husband crazy last night, laughing nonstop while we read!
  • I also started another graphic memoir, Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, a real-life middle-grade story of a cliquish group of girls and her struggles with making and keeping friends amidst all kinds of mean girl behavior. I'm enjoying it very much so far.
  • On audio, I am listening to Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir by Amy Tan. Her lyrical writing is here, along with fascinating stories from her childhood and beyond. Wow, her family has a fascinating history!
  • My husband, Ken, is reading To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, a time travel farce, combining historical fiction (set in Victorian England), time travel, and plenty of humor. I enjoyed it, and he is starting to get into it.
  • Jamie, 23, had to take a break from his favorite kinds of fiction to read a nonfiction book for a class, The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability by James Gustave Speth. He is majoring in environmental engineering and specializing in sustainability. I used to work in environmental management consulting myself, so I think this book sounds interesting! He is probably finished by now and back to fiction, but I only saw him for five minutes last night - this is why we need a little family vacation!
Last week's blog posts:
Movie Monday: Carol, a romantic (but sad) story of forbidden love

Fiction Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock, book 1 of a suspense trilogy

Saturday Snapshot: Fall in Connecticut - photos from my trip last week

Fiction Review: The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, a creepy sci fi classic


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.


What are you and your family reading this week?  

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.    

21 comments:

  1. Sending good wishes your way as you visit a new doctor! Enjoy your trip to FLA. I am going down in 3 weeks for a wedding.

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    1. Thanks, Nise! Enjoy your FL trip, too!

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  2. Nice assortment of books. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress sounds really good. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  3. You know, I think I have "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress" on my Kindle! I sort of remembering buying it on a Kindle special years ago and not yet having the chance to read it (this is what happens when you own 800+ books you haven't read. I know...I have a problem). I'm going to go see if it actually is there....

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    1. I hear you, Melinda! I buy those $1.99 specials from BookBub on the Kindle, but I rarely read my Kindle - the physical books stacked all over the place have a bigger pull!!

      If you do have Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, I think you'd like it!

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  4. I am not sure if my first comment went through. My apologies if this is a repeat...
    I hope the doctor's visit goes well and that you find a solution that makes your pain go away or more bearable.

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    1. Thanks, Helen - it has turned out to be a very bad week pain-wise and the new med I tried from the new doctor only made it worse. sigh...back to the drawing board!

      Very ready to go to Florida!

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  5. You've made me want to read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress so I am going to need to research it a little more. Those trips sound great and I agree train is a good way to travel. I can't read in a car but I can in a train.

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    1. I think you'd like it, Kathryn! Very funny but also interesting insight into the conflict between the modern world and her Mennonite upbringing.

      Same with me on the train and reading!!

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  6. I hope you like Real Friends--I think it is a special graphic novel, and I cannot wait for more of them from Shannon Hale.
    I think you would really like Burn Baby Burn--you should grab it when you can.

    Happy reading this week :)

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    1. I loved Real Friends, Kellee! She really captured the cutthroat world of elementary school girl friends!!

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  7. I read Spinning this past Spring. For some reason it made me feel tired. It really was a sad story of an unhappy life. I read Mennonite in a Black Dress with book club a few years ago and we had a really hard time generating a good discussion on it, unfortunately. I haven't heard of that Amy Tan book and want to read Say Nothing of the Dog. It is on some list of favorites that I read a while ago and it sounded good.

    Currently I am reading Earth Hates Me by Ruby Karp, another YA nonfiction book. I am also trying to cram in The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman before it is due next week.

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    1. Yes, me, too, Anne - Spinning was very sad - it made me feel COLD, too! All those early mornings on the ice!

      Interesting you didn't find much to discuss with Janzen's memoir - but some books are enjoying but not great for discussion!

      I would love to read the new Pullman!

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  8. Great selection of books! Come see what I'm reading this week.

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  9. Oooh, I want to read Mennonite in A Little Black Dress. It seems fantastic!

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  10. Good luck with the doctor at Johns Hopkins! From your words here I've just put Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home on hold as an audiobook.
    I think Real Friends is an important book.

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    1. Oh, I bet the Mennonite memoir will be great on audio - just don't listen in public - you'll be laughing out loud a lot!

      I agree on Real Friends.

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  11. Both of my kids enjoyed Real Friends. We seem to be on a very serious graphic novel kick in my house and I'm not complaining! :)

    I hope you got some good news from the doctor, Sue.

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    1. Oh, that sounds like fun, Lindsey! I really enjoy graphic novels, too. Glad your kids are getting into them.

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