It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (2/20/17)

Hosted by The Book Date.

Last week was a busy one! I attended Georgia Hunter’s launch event in NYC for her gorgeous debut novel, We Were the Lucky Ones. She discussed the book with Thomas Kail, the director of Hamilton, and tons of her family members were in attendance. I met the son of Genek, who was the Kurc brother that spent time in a Siberian labor camp. And, he was charming!

On the reading front, I’m already digging into March releases, because there are a gazillion March books I’m dying to read. I also posted my spoiler discussion of Behind Her Eyes, specifically focusing on the ending (#WTFthatending).

Finally, I threw out my back last Sunday and have been in physical therapy all week. I’m not able to work out normally and won’t be for at least another two weeks. My regular blog readers can probably guess this is driving me crazy! Luckily, my PT does involve some things that can be called “working out” and I was psyched to wake up on Saturday morning a bit sore from Friday’s PT. Needless to say, my foam roller is coming in quite handy! 

The silver lining of this injury is that’s it’s made me truly appreciate having the ability to stay active and particularly to do that outdoors whenever possible. Sometimes it takes (temporarily) losing something to truly appreciate the joy it brings you.

This post contains affiliate links.

I finished reading…

A Separation, Katie Mitamura


A Separation
 by Katie Kitamura (February 7, 2017)
I really loved this dark story about a marriage. However, I don’t think it’s for everyone. Despite The Millions saying it’s “poised to be the literary Gone Girl of 2017,” it is not a plot-based story. In fact, this might be the most egregious Gone Girl comparison I’ve seen yet…which does nothing but turn off this book’s ideal reader and attract, but ultimately disappoint, the wrong one! If you love dark stories driven by the writing and emotional tension, then I highly recommend you give this one a try.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

All Grown Up, The Barrowfields


All Grown Up
 by Jami Attenberg (March 7, 2017)
I’m 70% through this story of a single woman in her upper thirties living in NYC is one of the winter 2017 books I was most anticipating. It’s darkly humorous and I can somewhat relate to Andrea’s situation of being single in NYC (something I was in my mid-upper twenties). It’s really different from her last novel, Saint Mazie (my review).

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

The Barrowfields by Phillip Lewis (March 7, 2017)
I was hoping this debut Southern coming of age story would be this year’s My Sunshine Away (my review) or Only Love Can Break Your Heart (my review), but I was a bit bored through the first 40%. I’ve temporarily put it aside to read All Grown Up, but plan to give it one more shot (since the reviews are generally positive) before moving on for good.

I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

Everything Belongs to Us, Yoojin Grace Wuertz


Everything Belongs to Us by Yoojin Grace Wuertz (February 28, 2017)
I honestly didn’t make it very far with this one (5%). I kept zoning out and had heard some less than stellar reviews recently, which didn’t give me much motivation to keep pushing.

Upcoming reading plans…

What You Don't Know, Joann Chaney


What You Don’t Know
 by Joann Chaney (March 7, 2017)
I’m really craving a fantastic thriller (Behind Her Eyes did not fill this void), so I paid attention when Liberty Hardy recommended this debut about a Denver serial killer on a recent All the Books podcast episode.

I was reading…

One Year Ago: One of my favorite books of 2016!

Two Years Ago: The only Erik Larson book I’ve ever been disappointed with.

How was your reading week?

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33 Comments

  1. I’m reading All The Missing Girls and I almost gave up once already! It is one of those stories that goes in reverse, so It’s probably not the best book to read before bed. I keep forgetting what’s going on. We’ll see…

    Putting that thriller What You don’t Know on my to read list. You know I love me a good thriller…

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Oh – interesting concept! I kind of love books where the suspense lies in the “how” rather than the “what”…and it sounds like All the Missing Girls might be one of those.

      I’ll let you know if WYDK pans out!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  2. Kay wrote:

    Sorry about your back! However, sounds like you’re on the road to recovery. I don’t think I’ve heard about WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW. Will have to check it out. I love me a good thriller.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I literally just started it last night, so too early to tell. Will keep you posted!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  3. So sorry to hear about your back! Hopefully you’ll be back at it soon enough. It’s so funny you mentioned a foam roller, as I’m totally in the market for one. I’d never heard of them before, but we use them stretching and things in CrossFit, and I’m kind of obsessed with it’s awesomeness.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thanks 🙂

      You should definitely get a foam roller! They’re cheap and do wonders! I linked to the one I have in this post (it’s an affiliate link)…it’s a good basic one to start with. I have one at home and use it all the time…even before the back injury. Doesn’t surprise me they use them in Crossfit!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  4. Alicia wrote:

    I’ve been on the fence about The Separation since the ratings on goodreads started to plummet. You’ve just renewed my excitement!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I really loved it…just do not go in expecting a Gone Girl style twisty thriller! Or much plot at all. This book is all about the writing and is sort of a rumination on a marriage.

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  5. Trying to recover from a sports injury is never fun and always feels like it takes forever! Hope it goes quickly for you.

    I had heard nothing about What You Don’t Know. I’m anxious to hear if it’s the thriller you’re craving. (If so, I’ll give it a try.) It’s been a long time since I’ve read a good thriller!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I already feel like I’ve been “recovering” forever and it’s only been a week! However, my appetite has shrunk considerably, so glad to know my insane appetite is generally connected to working out.

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  6. I love author events!

    Thanks for giving us the low down on A Separation – after reading your thoughts, I think I’ll skip it.

    I hope you’re back to normal soon!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Georgia’s was my first author event! Most of the ones near me are in NYC and I have to commute in and that’s kind of hard with the kids, etc. So I don’t generally get to them.

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  7. Sorry to hear about your back – wishing you a speedy recovery. I quite agree about losing something leads you to appreciating it more. Hopefully you’ll be back to your active self very soon!

    I hope you enjoy all your upcoming reads. Have a great week!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thank you 🙂

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  8. I am going to check out your spoiler page on Behind Her Eyes…as that ending, well, was surreal.

    After your comments on A Separation, I am off to check it out.

    I see that one of your favorite books in 2016 was Be Frank with Me, which I have waiting on Pippa, my Kindle. So…in the near future.

    Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your week. I have had back issues…so I can relate.

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  9. Tara wrote:

    I’m still so thrilled (and jealous!) that you were able to get to Georgia’s book launch event; and you met another family member, too! Wow! So cool! I’m so glad the book seems to be receiving quite a bit of buzz and hope that it does well. I hope you’re starting to feel a little progress from PT; any idea what might have caused this? They usually have some good suggestions on injury prevention for future reference.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  10. Kathy Martin wrote:

    I’ve set aside a book too that wasn’t working for me. It’s on my Kindle if I ever get the urge to find out what happens in the story. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  11. Taryn wrote:

    So sorry to hear about your back! I hope you have a speedy recovery!

    I finished Everything Belongs to Us last week and I probably should’ve abandoned it. I loved Namin’s family story in Part II, but most of the book was focused on my least favorite character Sunam. I didn’t find him “charming” or “ambitious” at all!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  12. Michelle wrote:

    Good luck with your back rehab! Injuries, especially sports-related ones, are so frustrating, so I hope yours is a speedy recovery!

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s definitely frustrating…and thank you!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  13. Beth F wrote:

    Bummer on the back! Hope it heals soon. I haven’t started on March books yet … I always feel so far behind.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thanks 🙂

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  14. Anita wrote:

    I’m sorry to hear about your back, but sounds like you’re doing all the right things and will be back and active soon.
    I’m only 50 pages in but I would like to recommend Alex George’s new book, Setting Free the Kites. It’s a coming of age story and I love the writing and the story thus far.
    I would have loved to have been at Georgia Hunter’s event with you. What a pleasure I’m sure it was. My review of her book will be up this week.
    Happy Reading….

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’ve been eyeing that one, so I’ll stay tuned for your full report!

      It was definitely a pleasure…looking forward to your review!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  15. I wish The Barrowfields had work for you. 🙁 I personally think all Southern fiction should be the best every time, but that’s just my bias. 😉 I decided to remove my hold at the library for A Separation; I’m already having second thoughts about the removal, though.

    Now, I needed another thriller on my radar. Ha! Not likely, but I do trust Liberty’s judgement, so I’ll be checking for this one.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I have the same bias…and it usually does for me! This one isn’t too bad, but it’s just not making that much of an impression.

      I’ve been hit and miss with Liberty, but I’ll keep you posted on this one!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  16. Catherine wrote:

    I am shocked you would even pick up a book compared to Gone Girl! You HATE that comparative as much as I do. It is so unfair to the authors.

    Thanks for vetting Everything! I’m going to set it aside for now.

    I didn’t click on your link for what you were reading a year ago that was a 2016 favorite, but my guess is Swans. Am I right? If so, I think that is the first book I absolutely badgered you to read and where our twinship began! A year later and we’re still doing pretty well in our similar tastes.

    Posted 2.20.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Well…I didn’t realize the Gone Girl comparison until literally right before I’d read it. And, before that, I’d been excited about it forever (before seeing the GG thing), heard Rebecca Schinsky say great things about it and say it was NOT like GG…so I felt OK moving ahead. This was not like GG in the best possible way.

      And – no – it’s not Swans! It’s Tender…but Swans was obviously another one! That was the start of our twinness..has it really only been about a year?! It feels like so much longer!

      Posted 2.20.17 Reply
  17. Naomi wrote:

    Ha! Funny – Dead Wake is my favourite Larsen so far!
    I’m glad to hear that Gone Girl is *not* a good comparison for A Separation – there’s hope for it yet!
    Sorry to hear about your back. I hope it’s coming along…

    Posted 2.21.17 Reply
  18. I’m planning to listen to the audiobook version of A Separation soon. It sounds great!

    I’m currently catching up on all the books I should have read last month, but didn’t because of my reading slump. We Were the Lucky Ones and The Lost City of the Monkey God are on my bedside table right now. I’m also listening to Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? I thought I would really love this one, but so far I’m surprised at how dry it is.

    Posted 2.21.17 Reply
  19. I found your post via the linkup.
    I also make BookTube videos and just posted one about some of the new releases you talk about here – A Separation and What You Don’t Know.
    I just finished reading Human Acts and while it wasn’t easy to get into, the whole story made it worth it. I also had that experience with another book I read last week. I don’t like to DNF a book so I usually try to push through and often, it gets better after a while.
    You can check out my videos here: https://youtu.be/8SVWshiMqrQ
    or my reviews here: https://runwright.net/2017/02/21/human-acts/
    I’m following you now too.

    Posted 2.21.17 Reply
  20. Annie Romero wrote:

    I’m reading Deborah Coonts’ book After Me. deborahcoonts.com is her site for it’s info. I love thrillers, and with her strong lead character this book is a recommendation for sure, I love it!

    Posted 2.22.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thanks, I’ll check it out!

      Posted 2.22.17 Reply

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