It's Monday 8/27! What Are You Reading?

Busy end of summer around here! My 16-year old niece was visiting for a few days last week, so my sons were both home - lots of fun but tiring, too. It was nice to have her here and spend some time together - rare now that she is older. I was also busy with my father-in-law - he half-tore off a toenail last weekend, so I ran around a bit this week taking him to the podiatrist and then taking turns with my sons visiting him each day to change the band-aid and check on him. On the plus side, he was watching an old episode of Columbo when I came to visit one day - what fun! Leonard Nimoy was guest-starring as a surgeon. He and I enjoyed that.

So, it's a new week, but still super busy - need to rush out now to take my father-in-law for a follow-up appointment with the podiatrist and then back here to meet my husband and son for lunch so we can all swap cars (mine is STILL in the shop - over a month now!)...

OK, I'm back! Amidst all this hectic busy-ness, we are still enjoying our books. Here's what we've all been reading this past week:

• I finished reading 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. Green explores 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 really enjoyed it and wrote my review for Shelf Awareness last week, so I will share that when it is published in September.
• Next, I read another review book for Shelf Awareness, Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman and David Polonsky (illustrator) and Anne, of course. This graphic novel-style adaptation is just as moving and powerful as the original, and the realistic drawings include startling war-time illustrations, depictions of life in hiding, as well as fantastical imaginings from Anne. I just re-read the original last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed this new approach.
• And now it is time for my 5th and final Big Book of the year, just in time for the end of summer! I am reading City of Savages by Lee Kelly, a YA post-apocalyptic (and somewhat dystopian) novel that's been on my shelf for far too long! I'm enjoying it so far. It's the story of two teen girls and their mother, trapped in a Manhattan that has been destroyed while war still rages around the city, and the ragtag society that has been established among the survivors. Definitely dark, but intriguing so far.
• I am still listening to Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork. 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. As a reporter, she is looking into the disappearances, but powerful people want to stop her. The narrative goes back and forth between her and her younger brother. So far, it's intense and suspenseful, with in-depth characters.
• My husband, Ken, is reading Waking Gods, book 2 of The Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel. He and I both loved book 1, Sleeping Giants, and I realized earlier this year we'd missed the release of the next two books, so I gave him this one for Father's Day (I'm next!). It's a suspenseful and thought-provoking trilogy about a giant hand found buried that is definitely not human-made. I can't wait to get back to this fabulous series!
• Our son, Jamie, 23, has been reading book 11 of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, Knife of Dreams. He loves this series and has been plowing through the huge books this year!About 50 pages left of this one.

Blog posts from last week:

Movie Monday: Extinction - sci fi action, suspense & lots of twists

TV Tuesday: Breaking Bad - we finally tried it and are hooked!

Fiction Review & Interview: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - compelling novel by a fascinating author

Teen/YA Review: Plus One by Elizabeth Fama - suspenseful dystopian romance

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 one more week 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!