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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In hard copy I finished Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen. It received four or five starred reviews (Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, etc.) and it’s definitely worth the hype. Any woman who’s had a difficult relationship with her mother will truly relate to the author’s yearning for healing (“All my life,” she writes, “I have wanted to know how our relationship went wrong—how I became her nemesis, her bête noire, her lightning rod, a scapegoat.”).
I then moved on to a scary novel: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. Has anyone here read this one? Although “read” might not be the right term. It’s experimental fiction so it’s as much something one experiences as reads. It’s in part about a family that moves into a house that is larger on the inside than the outside, but also about the person who’s compiling the story while slipping into madness.
In audiobook format, I finished up The Water Dancer by Te-Nehisi Coates (another excellent choice) and just started a book I’ve been meaning to get to for decades: John Irving’s The Cider House Rules. The World According to Garp came out when I was in high school and working at a Waldenbooks, and I’ve loved his work ever since. Not sure why I never got around to this one.
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This week I’m squeezing in some time to read Between Two Rivers by Moudhy Al-Rashid. It’s easy to pick up and put down as each chapter follows an ancient article found in an archeaological excavation, expanding on its meaning through early history.
I finished Mother of Rome, in audio, last week. I expected to not like it, but the book surprised me with enough focus on relationships to overcome my apprehension about the fantasy. Perhaps I’ll recall enough of it when the discussion rolls around to share a few thoughts. (I try to get my books from the library - last week Mother of Rome was available.)
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Glad to hear about Between Two Rivers, @Robin_G. That’s one’s on my shortlist.
I’m not sure when the discussion of Mother of Rome will be. The publisher has moved it back a couple of times, and I think they’re looking at sometime next spring now.
Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney - I ‘discovered’ Sally Rooney when I read her latest novel, Intermezzo, a few weeks ago. A work I found totally captivating. Subsequently I have been reading backwards through her catalog. I found ‘Normal People’ on Hulu, a totally captivating story, after which I read the book - an unusual experience where the ‘book’ was as good as the ‘film’ and vice versa. Beautiful World Where Are You again drew me in from within about 20 or so pages. I find her characters compelling, real, and totally believable in the sittuations they find themselves reflected in her unique style. A style that resonates with me - I know not for everyone, but absolutely for me.
I just finished Wild Dark Shore, which I loved. I had read Migrations and also loved that book, so decided to pick up Once There Were Wolves, which I also loved. I guess I could say Charlotte McConaghy is my new favorite author. I want to recommend one of these next week for my book club but can’t decide which.
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I love to listen to books while I crochet. This week’s listen is Vince Flynn’s new book, Denied Access.
Has anyone read Ken Follett’s new one, The Armor of Light?
I just finished the most wonderful story, When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén.
This is the story of Bo, a Swedish man at the end of his life looking back at the people and pets who made him who he is.
It’s really lovely, but be ready for tears at the end.
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I finished The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman, which deals with a difficult subject that shouldn’t be brushed aside. I’ve just started The Correspondent by Virginia Evans–hope it lives up to the hype.
I am reading “The Demon of Unrest” now. It is long, but I am learning a lot. “Becoming Madam Secretary” was a spectacular read last week.
Make Me Commissioner, I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball And How To Fix It by Jane Leavy. Only a true baseball fan (which I am) will enjoy this book.
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I have this on hold at the library. Thanks for the advice.
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I enjoyed both Atmosphere and The Sirens. I’m into a few chapters of Guess Again, a mystery set in Wisconsin about a cold case of a missing girl and possible link to a serial killer. Every now and then I need to plunge into a quick read plus the WI setting and towns are familiar. 
I finished a very touching WWIII romance novel - Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey.
I Am You by Victoria Redel caught my attention. After reading Mona”s Eyes i thought this would be a perfect follow up so I just downloaded the ebook.
I am reading More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova….i loved her her book Still Alice
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I finished reading All The Colors of the Dark on Friday. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I see what all the hoopla is about. Now I’m reading Wish you were Here by Jodi Picoult for a book club. So far so good.
I’m also still listening to The Quiet Librarian by Allen Estes. It switches between the Bosnian/Serb war and current day when a Bosnian survivor is a quiet librarian in the US.
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Laurie, I love Mitch Rapp! Don Bentley is the latest writer to be approached by the Flynn estate to write about Mitch. I can’t wait to read it.
I just finished a brilliantly written book by, Stephanie Crowell, The Man in the Stone Cottage. With a blending of realism and mysticism of the Brontë family. I was mesmerized by the writing and storytelling of this. I think it would be an excellent choice for book clubs because there is so much to discuss about it.
All the Colors of the Dark, is now an all-time favorite read of mine. My October book club is discussing this book and I can’t wait.
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I really enjoyed it also. I have three book clubs that are reviewing it! Considering how it started, it didn’t progress, or end, as I thought it would.
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