It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (3/2/15)

It's Monday What Are You Reading
This week, I’m linking up with Sheila at Book Journey for It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

I’ve spent the last week finishing Dead Wake and then digging into A Little Life, both of which are hefty books. So, after one more review book, I’m determined to shake things up a bit and a try a light backlister before heading back to review land. I’m not sure what backlister it will be yet..I think this will be a “sample a few and see what speaks to me” kind of deal.

I just finished reading…

Dead Wake, Erik Larson


Dead Wake
 by Erik Larson (March 10, 2015)

The true story of the World War I era sinking of the Lusitania, a ritzy ocean liner sailing from New York to Liverpool. I was really looking forward to this one since I loved Larson’s The Devil in the White City and In the Garden of Beasts, but it pains me to say that this one was a bit uneven. I wasn’t a fan of the first half, but things did turn around in the second. Look for my full review later this week.

I’m currently reading…

A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara


A Little Life
 by Hanya Yanagihara (March 10, 2015)

Shannon at River City Reading got me interested in this “epic about love and friendship in the twenty-first century that goes into some of the darkest places fiction has ever traveled and yet somehow improbably breaks through into the light.” I’m knee deep in this one right now and…wow. It’s sprawling and gorgeously written. I’m lamenting the fact that I don’t have hours long time blocks to sit down and lose myself. My “reading in 30 minute increments” lifestyle is really not cutting it for this one!
Affiliate Link: Pre-Order from Amazon

Next up are…one more review book followed by a lighter backlister

The Unraveling of Mercy Louis, Panic, Lauren Oliver, Astonish Me, Maggie Shipstead


The Unraveling of Mercy Louis
 by Keija Parssinen (March 10, 2015)

“In this intricate novel of psychological suspense, a chilling discovery near the high school ignites a witch hunt in a southeast Texas refinery town, unearthing communal and family secrets that threaten the lives of the town’s girls.” (Goodreads) This will be my second novel of the year about tragedy surrounding teenagers in a Southern town (the first being my current frontrunner for Best Book of 2015, My Sunshine Away).

Possible Backlisters
I meant to read Lauren Oliver’s Panic last summer and it’s been sitting on my Kindle (unread) ever since. It’s a psychological page turner where high school seniors in a tiny town play “a legendary game […] where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher” (Goodreads). And, after loving Maggie Shipstead’s Seating Arrangements, I’ve had her latest novel (this time about the ballet world), Astonish Me, on my TBR list forever. And, I may end up with something else entirely…we shall see!


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25 Comments

  1. A Little Life sounds really good. I hope you continue to enjoy it. I have a backlist now, but find it difficult to rekindle my interest for older books. I hope you have a great week.

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  2. I enjoyed Seating Arrangements too, and have read good things about Astonish Me. Happy reading 🙂

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  3. Kay wrote:

    I meant to read ASTONISH ME last year and completely forgot about it. Glad for the reminder. I am the most un-ballet type person you’d ever know, but I like to read about it. 😉

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Me too! The closest I’ve ever come to ballet is Barre class! But, that whole world is somewhat fascinating.

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  4. I read Panic a while ago. I’m not sure I’d consider it a light read. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      If not a light read, then hopefully a thrilling page turner at least?!

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  5. So glad you’re enjoying A Little Life (if enjoying is an appropriate word to use). I totally get wishing you had longer chunks of time to dedicate to it; it really seems to demand immersion!

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Ha! I see what you mean. But, yes, I’m enjoying it very much…just not in a fun party kind of way. More in an “This is a hard, hard book, but I’m still totally enthralled kind of way”.

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  6. Glad to hear A Little Life is sucking you in and wish you could totally hand yourself over to it (though, sometimes it’s nice to be able to put that one down and breathe for a bit).

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yes and yes! I think the fact that I have built-in breaks is probably a blessing in disguise 🙂 This is not an easy read, but I am enthralled.

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  7. I am very curious about A Little Life…the look on that guy’s face is excruciating! LOL

    Enjoy…and thanks for visiting my blog.

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yep…that pretty much sums it up!

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  8. They all sound rather … dark! I hope you get to your back lister, while reviewing books is great sometimes books on our own shelves beckon.

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      A Little Life is definitely dark, but amazing nonetheless!

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  9. I’m disappointed to see Dead Wake wasn’t better.

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Me too 🙁

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  10. Boo! This is not great news about Erik Larson’s latest; that’s a disappointment. To be honest, though, I was not sure how even he (and I have a lot of respect for his writing) was going to make this an intriguing story. Oh, well. I’m not in love with the book I’m reading now (Reunion of Ghosts), but I really want to see how it will end and I’m already 60% of the way through. Hope you had a great weekend, Sarah!

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I was so disappointed because I generally find his books reliably great. Oh well 🙁

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  11. Nice books, Sarah. I read and enjoyed The Devil and the White City and hope to pick up one of Larson’s other books at some point. A Little Life and Astonish Me are both on my list wish . . . Happy reading!

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      If you liked Devil in the White City, I recommend Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts next. I’d skip Dead Wake 🙁 A Little Life is absolutely amazing so far…not an easy or light book.

      Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  12. Lindsey wrote:

    I really loved Astonish Me, but I am also a big fan of starting a bunch of books and seeing what sticks! Have a great week!

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  13. I’ll be curious to see the review of the new Larson book. I didn’t love his last book, so I’m waiting to see how people receive this one before I decide if I want to pick this one up. WWII is not really my favorite topic…

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  14. Belle Wong wrote:

    That’s disappointing, that Dead Wake was kind of uneven. I’m in the middle of The Devil in the White City and am really enjoying it.

    Posted 3.2.15 Reply
  15. I hope you enjoy whatever book you choose to read this week,

    Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

    Posted 3.3.15 Reply
  16. Looks like a great reading week! I am curious about that Eric Larson book.

    Posted 3.3.15 Reply

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