It's Monday 8/20! What Are You Reading?

This is another 2-week update because I was on vacation last week - actually, at home but "on vacation." We had found the only 3 days all summer that we could get together with our adult sons for a short trip, planned and reserved three days of camping in the Pocono Mountains, where it would be cooler, after a family wedding in the region last weekend. So, we hustled to pack for both a wedding and a camping trip and managed to leave on time Saturday, towing our camper & kayaks. We checked into a hotel, unhitched the camper for the night, and went to the wedding - which was wonderful! Sunday morning, we checked the weather forecast - over and over! - and it showed nonstop heavy rain for the next three days solid.

So, we cancelled our state park reservations and pulled the camper back home! We had to unpack all the stuff we hadn't even used, but by Sunday evening, we were ready to relax and enjoy a little staycation, just the four of us. We went bowling, played mini golf, ate our camping food (cooked in the oven) plus plenty of treats, watched movies, played games, and tied for 3rd place at a local Trivia Night! It all worked out well and was lots of fun.

Of course, there was some reading time, too. Here's what we've been reading the past two weeks:

• I finished The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell and was blown away by it (my review at the link). I bought this novel at Northshire Bookstore in VT because one of the hosts, Ann, of my favorite book podcast (Books on the Nightstand - now retired but still available) said it was her favorite book. It's the story of a group of people, including some Jesuit priests, who travel to another galaxy in search of extraterrestrial life. Something horrible and tragic happens during that mission, and only one man returns (not a spoiler). The novel begins with the present (2060), after the mission, and flashes back to the first ideas of the mission, ironically in 2019 (the book was published in 1996), and gradually fills in what happened in between. It is compelling and completely unique - a very powerful and thought-provoking novel.
•  It was hard to leave the characters and the world of The Sparrow behind, but I am now reading - and immersed in - An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, brother of the famous YA novelist John Green and one-half of the popular Vlogbrothers video series. Hank has a huge following of his own, thanks to the vlogs and his own two educational and science video series. This new novel, due out September 25, is about a group of young adults who unwittingly find themselves at the center of the biggest thing that's ever happened in the world. It deals with our celebrity culture, the role of social media, and through the mirror of a bizarre, otherworldly series of events, even reflects on our current divided state politically. But while doing all that, it's also a whole lot of fun and very funny. I'm enjoying it so far and will be reviewing it for Shelf Awareness.
• I finished listening to Plus One by Elizabeth Fama, a YA novel (a freebie from SYNC). It's set in an alternate reality, where the reduced population after the flu pandemic of 1918 led to the remaining people being divided into Rays, who live during the day, and Smudges, who live at night. Sol is a seventeen-year old Smudge. Her brother was transferred to day-living four years ago, and is now married with a newborn baby. Since Sol and her brother are now on opposite schedules, they are not allowed to see each other (except for an occasional Unity Day). Sol's beloved grandfather who raised them both is dying, though, and Sol is determined for him to hold his new granddaughter before he dies. To accomplish that, she must break a lot of laws and take a lot of risks. A Ray doctor's apprentice named D'arcy gets pulled into helping Sol. This engaging novel combines dystopia, action, suspense, and romance - I enjoyed it.
• Now, I am listening to Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork. I've just started it (not a lot of listening time during family staycation!), but I am a huge fan of Stork and am enjoying it so far. It's set in Juarez, Mexico, about a young woman whose best friend disappeared one day, along with many other young women over the years from their city. So far, it's intriguing and suspenseful, with in-depth characters.
• My husband, Ken, finished The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz, another in the series that began with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lagercrantz took over the series after its author, Stieg Larsson, died. My husband enjoyed it and feels Lagercrantz is doing a good job with the series. I've added it to my side of the TBR bookcase!
• Last night, not wanting to start something new right before a business trip (he'd already packed a light paperback), my husband started reading some of the short stories in Machine Learning by Hugh Howey, which I reviewed last year. We are both huge fans of Howey's trilogy that begins with Wool, so I know Ken will enjoy these clever and creative short stories (including a few from the Wool world) as much as I did!
• Our son, Jamie, 23, finished book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and immediately began book 11, Knife of Dreams. He loves this series and has been plowing through the huge books this year! 

Posts on the blog the past two weeks:

Movie Monday: How It Ends - a new Netflix apocalypse movie starring Forest Whitaker

Summertime...and the Reading Is Easy! - favorite books with summer themes/settings

Fiction Review: The Sparrow - Moving, thoughtful, immersive novel of first contact

Saturday Snapshot: Our Staycation - a few highlights from last 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.

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

What are you and your family reading this week?   

Just two more weeks left for the Big Book Summer Challenge! If you are participating, be sure to leave links to your Big Book reviews or challenge updates/wrap-ups on the Challenge page or leave your updates in the Goodreads group. Seems like it's been an excellent Big Book Summer for a lot of people! I am hoping to squeeze in one more, after I finish my review books.