Hosted by The Book Date.
Between repair work on our basement (from the recent plumbing flood) moving along and desperately trying to avoid getting the vicious stomach bug that caused 120 children from my son’s elementary school to be absent on Friday, I got some good reading done last week. I’m enjoying sinking into some backlist titles I’ve been wanting to read for awhile without any pressure or intention of reviewing them!
I finished reading…
The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis (December 6, 2016)
First chapter was awesome. Then, Lewis proceeded to write a textbook. I did a lot of skimming from that point on. Such a letdown. I spelled out my thoughts in slightly more detail on Goodreads.
The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez (June 3, 2014)
Powerful book about the life of immigrants living in the U.S. Initially quiet, but I couldn’t put it down towards the end. Very glad I checked this off my backlist TBR.
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I’m currently reading…
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett (December 11, 2011)
I’m about 40% in and I like it, but it’s not earth shattering. Some topics are more interesting than others. Interesting = writing and marriage. Less interesting (at least to me) = opera.
Upcoming reading plans…
After reading two backlist books, I’m going to switch to 2017 releases for a bit. I might squeeze in another backlist before the New Year if I have time.
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund (January 3, 2017)
This debut novel about a young girl living a somewhat eccentric life in Minnesota has been getting some pre-publication buzz.
Idaho by Emily Ruskovich (January 3, 2017)
Early reviews of this debut novel about a crime and a family have been all over the map. We’ll see where I fall.
How was your reading week?
I”m so glad you read The Book of Unknown Americans! It was just one of those books that has stayed with me.
I don’t even know the name of the book I’m reading. It’s that good… :p
Yep – I have a feeling it’ll stay with me too! It’s especially relevant right now and I’m trying to determine how I feel about immigration laws…I can see both sides and really have trouble deciding where I fall.
“Interesting = writing and marriage. Less interesting (at least to me) = opera.”
Ha! I haven’t read this book, but I bet I would feel the same way.
Let me tell you something, Ann Patchett LOVES opera. Haha.
120 kids gone! Wow! I hope that misses our school. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I love, love, loved Idaho. It almost reminded me of a quiet, character driven TV show. Glad to hear everything is on the up and up at home and you have a bit more reading time on the horizon!
Yay – excited to start it. Might kick it in front of History of Wolves, as the only feedback I’ve heard on that one was that it was a bit disappointing.
I listened to The Undoing Project so there was no skimming but I did find myself daydreaming while I listened. It never really grabbed me so I should have returned it.
I almost felt like it wasn’t Michael Lewis. Grr…
So glad you liked The Book of Unknown Americans. I thought it was such a quietly powerful story. I’m half way through Idaho right now and am finding it a beautifully told story much different than I expected!
Here’s to staying away from that stomach bug!!
Yay – glad to hear that about Idaho! I might start that next…instead of History of Wolves b/c of your feedback.
I hope you don’t get sick.
Gorgeous covers on all of your books.
All of the books look and sound good.
ENJOY this week, and Merry Christmas!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
I’ve been eyeing the Ann Patchett book…and now I’m curious about Idaho. Enjoy! Stay well, and have a great holiday.
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120 children! I hope your family doesn’t get it. It’s never good to get the stomach bug and it’s worse when it comes during the holiday season. 🙁
I’ve been looking forward to reading that Ann Patchett book but as with most essay collections, I find some topics interesting and others not so much. I have a feeling my tastes will be very close to yours.
I’ve got to say…I’ve liked the essay collection more and more the farther I’ve read. There hasn’t been an essay that’s bored me since the opera one.
Too bad about the Michael Lewis book. Major bummer, I was thinking of getting that as a gift for a family member and now I don’t think so. Is it really boring? Happy Holidays.
The first chapter is fantastic, but yes, I was bored by a majority of the rest. There are certainly some interesting parts – Amos Tversky is a super interesting and quirky guy – but the work/research itself, which takes up a majority of the real estate was just presented almost as if it were in a textbook.
After spending so much time on reviewing, it really is a great feeling to read something without over-analyzing it for lines to put in a later review. 🙂 The Book of Unknown Americans has been on my TBR for a while and I just recently got an audiobook copy of it so I hope to get to it soon.
Agreed – it was such a nice break! And I’m appreciating it even more now that I’m reading a review book 🙂
120 CHILDREN?!! GAH!! That sounds horrible! I hope you are in the clear, Sarah! Good grief. I have not received an early copy of Idaho, but I’m saving some time to read it when it’s released; it sounds like something I would enjoy, so I’m willing to give it a try.