Hosted by The Book Date.
As you probably know, my reading is all about Nonfiction November at the moment. I’ve read three fairly serious nonfiction books in a row and feel a bit of burnout coming. So, I’ll probably throw in a novel to mix things up before giving serious nonfiction another shot.
I finished reading…
The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg (September 16, 2014)
Heartbreaking and eye-opening. Just as good as everyone said it was. Review coming later this week.
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I’m currently reading…
The Three-Year Swim Club by Julie Checkoway (October 27, 2015)
I’m almost done with my sports pick of the month. I really enjoyed the first half, but am somewhat ambivalent about the second half.
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Next up are…
Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy (March 3, 2015)
This Grit Lit coming of age story (a combination of two of my favorite types of books) is on my “must read before the end of the year” list. I read the sample and it gave me high hopes, so this is the novel I’m throwing in to mix things up during Nonfiction November.
The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell (January 20, 2015)
“The dramatic and never-before-told story of a secret FDR-approved American internment camp in Texas during World War II, where thousands of families—many US citizens—were incarcerated.” (Amazon). I’m hoping I’ll be in the mood to tackle this after my Grit Lit break. We’ll see.
It sounds like I definitely need to get to The Underground Girls of Kabul! I’m with you in thinking I need a quick fiction read to break things up in the middle of the month, but then I’ll hop back on the nonfiction train toward the end.
Yes – definitely! I think you’d really like it. So much commentary on women’s place in the world. I just started my short novel and am feeling great – I definitely needed a breather from nonfiction. You read Train to Crystal City, right? I keep feeling like it’s homework hanging over my head b/c it’s an ARC from January…is it worth reading?
I’m glad you liked TUGOK. From time to time it’s good to change the pace by reading something different before tackling again serious topics.
BTW, I’ll be reading a nonfiction book titled Concussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas, about the first medical examiner who found out about the serious consequences athletes face after concussions in professional football. I think you would enjoy this one.
Is Concussion related to the Will Smith movie that either just came out or is coming out?! That definitely sounds interesting…and up my football alley.
I know there is a new movie coming out based on the book, but I don’t know if we are talking about the same one. I know is right your alley, that’s why I mentioned it. It is available on NetGalley.
I’m sure it’s the same one! I’ll check it out on Netgalley.
THANK YOU for recommending Concussion!! I’m almost finished with it and it’s fantastic!! So much more than a football book. It’s hands down my favorite nonfiction of 2015 and may make my overall best books of the year list!
The Train to Crystal City sounds like an interesting read. I added The Underground Girls of Kabul to my wish list last year during NF November and still need to read it.
Ha – you and me both with Kabul, but I’m so glad I finally knocked it out. It was fantastic! We’ll see if I make it to Train to Crystal City!
I so need to get The Kabul book. I keep passing it up but it sounds like a book I need to read. I feel ya on the burnout. I am thinking of reading a novel sometime also. Not sure which one.
Definitely, definitely get the Kabul book. I’m annoyed that I waited so long! And – I started my novel last night and I feel much better…I needed that break. I’d suggest grabbing something short…mine is under 300 pages.
I have an ARC of The Three-Year Swim Club and it’s so riddled with errors I had to set it aside. Now I’m wondering if it’s worth picking up a finished copy.
OK – I remember you saying that awhile back and have been meaning to contact you about it! Some of them definitely made it into the final book. It’s not riddled with errors or anything, but I did find a couple typos and some of the sentence construction is a bit awkward. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but I definitely noticed it. The story itself is a bit odd too..I got really invested in these swimmers from the first half of the book and then WWII hits. And, the second half kind of focuses on different people. That’s obviously the reality of how things went down, but it made for an odd story arc.
Today I am reading The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing. I’ve been meaning to read this one forever. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a deeply thoughtful book about being female, wanting to do something about the world, and I think I will learn stuff about my life, the way I have lived it, and that I am not alone.
The Underground Girls of Kabul would be a great read I think. I am not much of a non fiction reader, my Dad reads a lot though. Enjoy all your books this week.
Sarah, I’m kind of bummed about your thoughts on The Three-Year Swim Club; I had such high hopes for that one! After 4 nonfiction titles in a row, I’m beat; I’ve started Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving, but will read it alongside a nonfiction title so that I can stay in the mix – ha! I’d love to read Where All the Light Tends to Go; can’t wait to hear what you think!
The Underground Girls of Kabul looks good.
The two books you have coming up next are calling my name. I have to check them out.
ENJOY your reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
I’m about a quarter into Where All Light Tends to Go and it’s fabulous so far…if you’re into gritty noir type stuff.
Good luck with all your nonfiction. Come see what I am reading here. Happy reading!
I’m glad you’re finally getting to The Three-Year Swim Club. I know that one has been on your list for a while, so I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I finished it yesterday…and it was pretty good, not phenomenal. Learned a ton of interesting swimming & Olympics trivia, though!
Looks like a good month of reading so far — enjoy!
I’m impressed by these nonfiction books you are reading. They are eye-opening stories. It never ceases to amaze me what comes out of the tucked away history box years down the line.
The Crystal City one sounds very intriguing. I will definitely have to keep my eye out for your thoughts when you finish it and post a review.
I have that same ARC from nearly a year ago of The Train to Crystal City — I guess it’s good timing because it’s about to release in paperback. It sounds interesting; just a classic case of too many books, too little time.
I didn’t realize it was about to release in paperback – maybe that will give me more motivation to get on it soon!
I’m with you! I feel like I’m going to be reading The Witches forever. I need a light fiction break I think.
Haha! I’m enjoying my fiction break…it was much needed. How is The Witches? I’ve heard so much about it, but don’t think I have it in me.
The Witches is interesting – but extremely dense. I’m only maybe 80 pgs in after 2 days – 3 train rides. I think I’m putting it down for the Underground Girls of Kabul for a few days
Oooh – I didn’t realize it was that dense! Not what I need right now. Girls of Kabul is really readable, and though the topic is serious, it doesn’t feel dense.
The Train to Crystal City is on my tbr list too! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.