What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? Please share! We’d love to know.
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Still reading The Eighth Life a few pages per day and then I’m about to finish Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey. On audio I’m reading What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
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I’m finally reading Dust Tracks On A Road (which has been sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust!) which is Zora Neale Hurston’s memoir first published in 1942.
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Curious as to what you’ll think of What We Can Know by Ian McEwan, @Anne_Glasgow. That one’s been on my shortlist for a while.
I finished The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. I’d read it many years ago but I’d forgotten how challenging it is. It’s all stream-of-consciousness, first-person narration, and it can be hard to follow. Soooo worth it, though. What a remarkable book! Not for the faint of heart, thought!
I then gratefully went on to Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley for our upcoming book club discussion here in two weeks. I truly enjoyed it. A woman and her husband go out to dinner at an exclusive restaurant and terrorists attack. Most of it, though, is Jane contemplating her marriage. The novel has its flaws, but overall it was a feel-good book.
… And now I’m reading Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray for our upcoming book club discussion. It’s historical fiction about a very important/influential Black woman, Jessie Redmon Fauset, literary editor of the NAACP’s publication, The Crisis, who launched the careers of many Black writers during the Harlem Renaissance.
Once I finish that, it’ll be on to a reread of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid for a book club.
In audiobook format, I finished my trashy fantasy, Convergence, by Craig Alanson (not terribly well written, but fun) and now I’m on to A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett. Bennett’s book is the second in a series (after 2024’s The Tainted Cup). It’s a police procedural/fantasy that takes place somewhere that’s not Earth. I thought the first book was wonderful (as did others, since it won the Hugo for best novel last year) and so far I’m really enjoying the sequel.
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Re: What We Can Know
It’s hard to say because I never react the same way to an audio but I am not finding it a favorite from McEwan.
I am reading A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver**.**
It’s an odd storyline, but entertaining.
I am reading “New and Selected Poems” by Marie Howe. It won the Pulitzer, and I read the winner every year, even though I struggle with poetry. It is a little uneven, but some of them are very deep. I was very pleased with “The Correspondent” last week and cannot wait to see what else Virginia Evans writes. Next up is “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham. It was a gift. I loved all of Grisham’s early work, but then DNF’ed several of his recent ones, so I’m apprehensive about this one.
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I’m reading The Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello (thanks BookBrowse!)
I’m reading A Visit From the Goon Squad. I’m glad I read a summary prior to opening the book. My understanding will be better.
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Last week I read The Maidens by Alex Michalides, the author of The Silent Patient. In reply to @Connie_K’s question, it was very disappointing. The plot was like a cat and mouse chase with weak characters.
Now I am reading THE BOOKMAN’S TALE by Charlie Lovett. I have read a third of the book and so far it is very intriguing.
I recently finished The Perfect Tuba by Sam Quinones. I loved learning more about orchestral tubists (e.g.,Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Boston symphony orchestras) as a classical music lover . . .and even more engaging is his inspirational testimonials about school music programs and the remarkable effect on kids to be better students, make better choices - lowering drop out rates, increasing college admissions and also as an impactful deterrent against crimes, drug use, etc. Be sure to thank a school band director today! They work extremely hard and are so important to kids!
I then started Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig - much overdue (why did I wait so long??) - I always enjoy Willig’s writing! She has a wonderful wit, a masterful way of researching and then writing history in a captivating way, AND it was a refreshing change to read a WWI story. The book was published nearly five years ago and I’m so happy I finally picked it up. (I’m about 2/3rd through and will probably finish today.)
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I am reading The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. Next to read, Harlem Rhapsody.
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I just finished Harlem Rhapsody last night, @Paula_Walters. It’s a little heavy on the relationship between Fauset and W.E.B. Du Bois, but really well-done historical fiction regardless. Fauset was a remarkable woman! Looking forward to discussing it in a couple of weeks.
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Yes looking forward to the discussion!
Last week read an old one-The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson and couldn’t stop laughing! Almost finished with Backman’s My Friends and was hoping for another Beartown but finding the characters insufferable. Starting Canticle by Janet Edwards about a medieval woman who learns Latin in secret and leaves home to join the beguines.
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I will finish The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater tonight and then start the Memory Library by Kate Storey tomorrow. I enjoyed the Q and A with her.
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I just started A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan for the Book Browse Side Read of James Mustich’s 1000 Books to Read Before You Die. I’m also doing the year long a chapter a day read of Anna Karenina. I’ve missed a few days, but the chapters are short so I should catch up fairly quickly.
I had to give up on My Dear Hamilton as I didn’t think I could get it finished before a nearby library’s discussion of it. Maybe I’ll get to it later. I did finish Mennonite Mystery for my book club and even so, cannot recommend it. Self published, it was middling until the end when the author went off on a political rant. I also just finished listening to Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng and narrated by Cassandra Campbell. I think this heartbreaking book will stay with me forever. It could be used by psychologists and educators as a case study of the damage well intentioned parents can do to their children. The audiobook narration is outstanding.
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Listening to Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid. I also have an ebook copy on hand so that I don’t miss any of the lyrical writing because of her enchanting Scottish brogue. A short non-fiction book, only two hours, it is a lovely and engaging read.
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So glad you mentioned this, Gabi! I have a friend who would probably enjoy this publication. Maybe I’ll order a copy of it for “Galentine’s” Day!
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