I've been on a bit of a reading binge lately. According to my husband, I've been ignoring him.
Book-widow.
So sad.
Anywho...here are a few of the books I've had in my hands lately...
Notes From The Dog by Gary Paulson...It's a super short read. Something like 150 pages. I read it in two days. It is super sweet and funny and touching and definitely worth the read.
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead...The most recent book from a favorite author of mine. Her book When You Reach Me is one of my favorites of all time and I adored her book First Light (and enjoyed Liar and Spy). They're all middle grade novels, but worth the read for adults too. And this one was good as well. A touching story that expertly captures some of the perils of early adolescence with main characters you'll root for.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell...It's no secret that Rainbow Rowell has written one of my all time favorite books, Eleanor and Park, plus another fave, Fangirl. And I really enjoyed her most recent book, a fun romp titled Carry On. Landline is her first foray from YA into adult books and I had put off reading it for just that reason. I wasn't sure I'd like the switch. And while I'll say that it didn't capture and hold me the way that Eleanor and Park or Fangirl did, I did like it. It took a little longer for me to get invested in the main characters. I didn't really love or identify with Georgie early on...but then I did. I found the story moving and totally relatable. The book definitely got me thinking and it proved an excellent reminder that we all must remember to invest time and energy in the most important relationships in our lives.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a play by Jack Thorne (and the gang)...I was hesitant about this book too. I, like many people, absolutely love the Harry Potter series. And while I will always want more of it, I'm worried about reading something that is supposed to be a part of that story but doesn't really measure up. Plus, this is a play, not a novel, which makes it a different reading experience (and not one I'm typically a fan of). But a man at a bookstore told me, as a Harry Potter lover, it was my duty to read it. So I did. All that said, the book turned out to be an interesting, fun read. It is decidedly not a JK Rowling novel. It doesn't paint the pictures for you the way she does in her novels (but, in Jack Thorne's defense, it is a play, so the picture-painting tends to happen on stage). Anyway, after reading all of the HP books and seeing all of the movies, it's easy enough to paint the pictures yourself. Honestly, the book felt more like reading well-done fan-fiction than anything else. Regardless, it was fun to read along with someone's idea of what might have happened in the world of Harry Potter 20 year later. And it was just nice to revisit that whole world again. So I agree with the bookseller...worth the read!
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen...I won't say much about this as it was our book club read for the month and we haven't yet met to discuss it. But I will say that it provided a similar reading experience to the other Dessen book I've read, Along for the Ride. A nice, easy, enjoyable read. Perfect for a little light escapism.
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer...this is book two in The Lunar Chronicles series. I read book one, Cinder, a few months back and am finally getting around to book two. I'm only about 150 pages in, but so far, it's proving to be similar to book one...a fun, fast-paced, dystopian future read with a unique fairytale twist.
So that's what I've been up to. How about you? Read anything good lately? If so, let me know. I haven't decided what I'm reading next, so I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Until next time, happy reading!
Book-widow.
So sad.
Anywho...here are a few of the books I've had in my hands lately...
Notes From The Dog by Gary Paulson...It's a super short read. Something like 150 pages. I read it in two days. It is super sweet and funny and touching and definitely worth the read.
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead...The most recent book from a favorite author of mine. Her book When You Reach Me is one of my favorites of all time and I adored her book First Light (and enjoyed Liar and Spy). They're all middle grade novels, but worth the read for adults too. And this one was good as well. A touching story that expertly captures some of the perils of early adolescence with main characters you'll root for.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell...It's no secret that Rainbow Rowell has written one of my all time favorite books, Eleanor and Park, plus another fave, Fangirl. And I really enjoyed her most recent book, a fun romp titled Carry On. Landline is her first foray from YA into adult books and I had put off reading it for just that reason. I wasn't sure I'd like the switch. And while I'll say that it didn't capture and hold me the way that Eleanor and Park or Fangirl did, I did like it. It took a little longer for me to get invested in the main characters. I didn't really love or identify with Georgie early on...but then I did. I found the story moving and totally relatable. The book definitely got me thinking and it proved an excellent reminder that we all must remember to invest time and energy in the most important relationships in our lives.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a play by Jack Thorne (and the gang)...I was hesitant about this book too. I, like many people, absolutely love the Harry Potter series. And while I will always want more of it, I'm worried about reading something that is supposed to be a part of that story but doesn't really measure up. Plus, this is a play, not a novel, which makes it a different reading experience (and not one I'm typically a fan of). But a man at a bookstore told me, as a Harry Potter lover, it was my duty to read it. So I did. All that said, the book turned out to be an interesting, fun read. It is decidedly not a JK Rowling novel. It doesn't paint the pictures for you the way she does in her novels (but, in Jack Thorne's defense, it is a play, so the picture-painting tends to happen on stage). Anyway, after reading all of the HP books and seeing all of the movies, it's easy enough to paint the pictures yourself. Honestly, the book felt more like reading well-done fan-fiction than anything else. Regardless, it was fun to read along with someone's idea of what might have happened in the world of Harry Potter 20 year later. And it was just nice to revisit that whole world again. So I agree with the bookseller...worth the read!
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen...I won't say much about this as it was our book club read for the month and we haven't yet met to discuss it. But I will say that it provided a similar reading experience to the other Dessen book I've read, Along for the Ride. A nice, easy, enjoyable read. Perfect for a little light escapism.
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer...this is book two in The Lunar Chronicles series. I read book one, Cinder, a few months back and am finally getting around to book two. I'm only about 150 pages in, but so far, it's proving to be similar to book one...a fun, fast-paced, dystopian future read with a unique fairytale twist.
So that's what I've been up to. How about you? Read anything good lately? If so, let me know. I haven't decided what I'm reading next, so I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Until next time, happy reading!
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI love Gary Paulsen. I will have to look this one up. I did read Harry Potter and the cursed child and I felt like you did...that it was necessary as a huge fan of all things Harry Potter but defiantly not one to write home about.
I just finished reading, Mobile Library by David Whitehouse...so good. And, in the last few weeks I have read, One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper, Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton (I was lucky enough to win a pre-published copy), Where they found Her by Kimberly McCreight, and Us by David Nicoles. I am currently reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I've heard good things about it. I'm about 150 pages in. It's good but not earth shattering yet.
I never could get into Eleanor and Park but your endorsement makes me want to give it another shot.
Hi Linda! I will add Mobile Library to my to-read list! Thanks for the reco. What did you think of the Kimberly McCreight novel? Her book Reconstructing Amelia is on my to-read list. Love Warrior is also on my list...I love Glennon! Always keep me posted on any great reads you discover!! :-) --Amy
DeleteP.S. I did try to get into the Lunar Chronicles series and it was not for me. However, I bought them for my daughter-in-law and she loved them.
ReplyDelete