Despite all that running around, I managed to squeeze in some books - I tend to stay up way too late when my husband is away! Here's what we've all been reading this past week:
- I finished reading The Rent Collector by Camron Wright, a novel set in Cambodia, for my first book group. It's based on a true story about a husband, wife, and baby son who live at the largest garbage dump in Phnom Penh (with many other people). The author took this real-life family and imagined what might happen if the wife learned to read (in a country with a very high rate of illiteracy), and how that might affect them and the people around them. My entire book group agreed it's a wonderful book (and we rarely all agree!), filled with both sorrow and joy and the light of literature. It got one of our highest average ratings ever.
- Next, for my second book group, I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, which I just finished last night. It's a nonfiction book about aging, serious illness, death, and dying. Sounds like a cheery one, right? It was tough to read at times and brought back a lot of memories of my dad's death from cancer a few years ago, but it is also a very powerful, thought-provoking, and important book that everyone should read. The author, who is a surgeon, looks deeply into the state of care for the elderly, sick, and dying. Some of it is pretty depressing, but he also discusses some exciting changes happening in the realms of assisted living, nursing homes, and hospice. I feel much better-informed, which is important since my father-in-law is 93 and slowing down every day. We had an excellent discussion, with a huge turn-out in our book group.
- Today, I am going to start reading True Enough by Stephen McCauley - because I need something warm, fun, and funny after that last book, and I know Stephen will deliver! Last year, I read and loved his latest novel, My Ex-Life, and also got to interview him for Shelf Awareness and then meet him in person at Booktopia. He has a real talent for writing insightful but humorous stories about real life. Just what I need!
- I finished listening to a YA novel on audio, The Beautiful Lost by Luanne Rice. It's about a teen girl who's suffered from depression since her mother left and how she connects with a boy in her class who also lost his mother. The two of them go on a road trip from CT to Canada. In some ways, it's a teen romance (and road trip novel), but it also digs deeply into important issues like depression, suicide, abandonment, foster care, and more. I enjoyed it.
- Now, I have moved onto another YA novel on audio, All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater, a favorite author of mine. It's....very different so far. Someone on Facebook described it as surreal, and that fits. I'm not even sure how to describe it! It's about a Mexican-American family who live in the Colorado desert in 1962 and can perform miracles. Pilgrims visit them in search of miracles. I'm still at the beginning, so characters and plot are still developing.
- While he's away, my husband, Ken, is reading a long but lightweight paperback I gave him: Edge by Jeffrey Deaver. Though we both love Deaver's Lincoln Rhymes series, this is a stand-alone novel, so we were intrigued by it. I suspect he hasn't had a lot of time to read on this trip, though!
- Our son, Jamie, 24, is now reading the FINAL book 14 of The Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. I was wrong when I said he finished the series with book 13 - there is one more, weighing in at a hefty 1168 pages! He loves this series and has been looking forward to the conclusion.
Favorite TV Shows Reviewed in 2018 - my annual round-up, with LOTS of great shows to try!
Best Books Read in 2018 - and my annual round-up of books read and top picks
Saturday Snapshot: January Snow - pics from my neighborhood last week
Best Movies of 2018 to come this week, and my 2019 reading challenges...and then I REALLY need to get back to writing reviews - books I've read this month are piling up!
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?
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| Dinner out with my son and cousin |
How great that your son found another book in his favorite series! I think Being Mortal is a really important book and have recommended it to a ton of people. And, I'll add The Rent Collector to my TBR pile, it sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Being Mortal. I think you'd really like The Rent Collector!
DeleteI have Being Mortal on my TBR list, but I'd kind of forgotten it. We recently buried my grandfather (who suffered from dementia) and my mom was in a terrible car wreck just two months after his death where she lost much of her vision. She may need some assistance in the coming years. I should be better prepared, but I think this would be an important read for anyone. Hoping to grab it up before too long. Also, I just checked out my first Sanderson book: Mistborn. It’s only about 540 pages, but my daughter and I were marveling over how big the pages are and how tiny the font is. I'm guessing it's more like an 800-900 page book. He sure writes big ones, doesn't he?! Perhaps I should save this one for the big book challenge next summer. LOL I love the photo you shared. You all look so happy! <3 Hope you all have a wonderful reading week, Sue!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Shaye - everyone should read Being Mortal because we will ALL be dealing with these issues sooner or later with family members or ourselves.
Deleteha ha yes, Sanderson writes HUGE novels, which is the way my son likes it! He thinks my Big Book Summer Challenge is hilarious because he rarely reads any book LESS than 400 pages! The bigger, the better for him!
The Beautiful Lost sounds good. And good for you for getting out a lot this week. The photo is great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth - it was a tiring week but fun to get out after several months stuck at home!
DeleteThe Rent Collector does sound like a very good book - giving insight into life in a completely different world. I can see how it hit the spot for you all. Sounds like a busy week but a good one, good that the computer is sorted finally!
ReplyDeleteYes, me, too, Kathryn! Always a tough transition with a new computer, but I think things are straightened out now :)
DeleteFun to see you all in the photo, Sue, except your husband of course. So many books! I love Maggie Steifvater's writing, too, have seen her present twice & that's wonderful, too. I have All The Crooked Saints & also The Rent Collector, still on the shelf! Someday I know I will get to them. Thanks for all!
ReplyDeleteYes, my husband was away and my older son was working, but my younger son and I enjoyed our cousin's visit! I bet Maggie Stiefvater is a great speaker! Definitely read The Rent Collector - it's a rare occasion when my whole book group agrees on a book!
DeleteAll that going out in a single week would be too much for me. My weekly updates
ReplyDeleteIt was for me, too!! I normally limit myself to one time out each week. It was just a confluence of things all at once. Fortunately, my book groups rarely fall on the same week.
DeleteI've added The Rent Collector to my list. I loved Being Mortal. I read it after my mom's death around the same time as I read When Breath Becomes Air
ReplyDeleteby Paul Kalanithi. Both are important books.
Oh, yes, I loved When Breath Becomes Air!
DeleteA busy and interesting week for you.
ReplyDelete