What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? Please share! We’d love to know.
I finished The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. It was fine for what it was which is a fast paced international political thriller.
I also finished the audio of No One’s Coming by Kevin Hazzard. This was a fascinating tale of the crew that transported the American doctor and nurse working in Liberia after they contracted ebola.
Read The Witch by Marie NDiaye. I just noticed this is a BB editor’s feature this week it was an interesting tale that started strong but for me it kind of fizzled by the end. A story of multiple generations of witches, family drama—it was doing a lot of things.
Still reading Tom’s Crossing.
Just stared a new audio called The Secret of Snow by Tina Harnesk set in Sweden.
Love by the Book by Jessica George (ARC). I loved Maame and so far am enjoying this one. Lots of characters so trying to keep them sorted but the concept is timely for me as I’ve decided I need to expand my ‘friend’ group! Fortunately I recently joined a neighborhood book group (formed through Buy Nothing) and now have a great new bunch of friends.
Just finished ”Mad Mabel” Captivating read. Need to think about its contents before I sit down and make comments.
I’m reading Yesteryear by Carl Clair Burke. So far, so good! I have absolutely no idea what the twist will be, but I’m enjoying the adventure.
Look forward to your thoughts on The Secret of Snow. It is on my Libby list.
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I am still working on Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. What a lovely book.
Also, finished The Little Red Chairs. So looking forward to the discussion!!!
Let’s see… Last week I finished a book for review for our self-published/indie author program: Along the Scarlet River of Destiny by Subhir Roy. I really want to like the books I read for this program; they’re often a person’s only book, something they worked on long and hard to get out there. Given that, it makes me feel bad to post a negative review, but most of them just aren’t that good. This one was a thinly-disguised third-person autobiography and, well, it was pretty amateurish.
I also read Kin by Tayari Jones for a book discussion today. I liked it OK - thought it was a five-star read - but I was surprised it didn’t wow me. After all the superlatives others have used in describing it I expected it to sweep me off my feet. Might be because John of John by Douglas Stuart was just so fantastic that Kin pales in comparison.
I’m currently reading Shelter Island by Jill Wisoff, also for the indie program. Fortunately, this one is showing more promise. It’s the first YA novel I’ve read in a long time, though, and I was surprised by the language. I did a Google search as to whether it’s common for these books to use the F-bomb, and apparently these days, it is.
Next up will be either another indie read - I Live You Forever by Meredeth Rutter Marple - or an alternative history (WWII) book for review, Palaces of the Crow by Roy Nayler.
In audiobook format, I’m still listening to The Forgiving Kind by Donna Everhart.
Next up will be The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien for our 1000 Books Before You Die, which I’ve decided to read in audiobook format, since it looks like that’s the only way I’m going to get this anytime soon. (BTW, anyone is welcome to join the group; next up will be A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.)
Palaces of the Crow looks good. I just looked it up and am adding it to my holds list for when it is published.
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Sure will @Gabi_J. I try to catch all my recent reads on these Thursday threads so watch for it here. I had to start the audio again which is a pretty frequent occurrence. Once I get the gist of the story then I’m good to go.
What drew you to this story? I love anything having to do with Sami and there is supposed to be a Sami element to this one.
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Re: The Secret of Snow
I picked up a copy in Barnes and read the jacket. The characters sounded interesting and I was intrigued by reference to an almost extinct culture (Sami). Also, I haven’t read much by Nordic authors and I’m interested in filling a gap.
I’m about 3/4 finished with Won’t Be Long Now by Elizabeth Hardinger and then need to jump on BookBrowse’s Book Club Discussion for it. I always tell myself I’m going to take notes while reading any book for discussion and then I remember too late! Audiobook-wise, I’ve only got 3 hours left of the 15 hours The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, but am going to have to detour from it again to speed read the April BookBrowse 1000 Books to Read Before You Die selection, The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien. I’m listening to it when driving and then picking up the hardcover where I stopped listening in order to maximize my time on it. Why do my “required reading” books always come due at the same time?!
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@KimKovacs I’ve ordered the pre-order kindle copy of John of John based on your high praise. Looking forward to its arrival May 5.
The Secret of Snow is on my list. I really enjoy Nordic authors. I’m nearly finished with Women of a Promiscuous Nature. Timely as I enjoyed the author discussion with Everhart. Next up is John Sanford’s Revenge Prey, another Lucas Davenport novel. Also, I’m reading a daily writing of Oprah’s book, What I Know For Sure. Gratitude is this next section. It’s always good to be reminded to enjoy the blessings we experience daily.
I finished reading Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester for the First Impressions program. Check out the reviews.
I’ve started reading one of the Hugo nominees The Everlasting. So far so good! I was a bit worried about the SCIFI label but no trouble with it yet. Love the writing style by Allix E Harrow.