It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (3/13/17)

Hosted by The Book Date.

I spent last week trying to settle down and get our household in order following a rough week. Thankfully, my heart rate is finally settling into a non-racing pace and my hot reading streak continues.

I’m continuing to rehab my injured back and was thrilled to finally be able to go for a couple very slow and short jogs last week. Baby steps, ya’ll. Weirdly, I discovered the treadmill is much harder on my back than running outdoors. If anyone has any actual insight into this, I’d love to hear it! And, my foam roller and Jasyoga “Lower Back Love” video have both continued to be my best friends (in addition to my Physical Therapist, of course).

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I finished reading…

The Woman Next Door, The Fall of Lisa Bellow


The Woman Next Door
 by Yewande Omotoso (February 7, 2017)

I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel! It started out with a dose of snarky humor and ended on a more introspective note. And, it was a more substantial book than I’d expected going in.
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The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo (March 14, 2017)
I liked Perabo’s first full length novel, but not as much as I loved her short story collection, Why They Run the Way They Do (my review). I’ll warn anyone thinking about reading it that the publisher’s blurb creates unrealistic expectations (shocker!) by calling it “suspenseful.” The suspense is more in the emotional sense rather than the page-turning sense…as the story focuses on the psychological impact of being the one left behind in an abduction on a middle school girl and her family.
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I’m currently reading…

The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy


The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy (March 14, 2017)
I’m just over halfway through this memoir by a staff writer at The New Yorker (who also happens to originally be from my town). I love her voice and this woman has lived quite an interesting life.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

The Hearts of Men, Nickolas Butler


The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler (March 7, 2017)
Prior to The Hearts of Men, Nickolas Butler had published two books in his career (Shotgun Lovesongs, Beneath the Bonfire) and I rated both 5 stars. He’s one of my rising stars to watch who could end up becoming an all-time favorite author. I’m hoping his latest novel about two boys that become friends at Boy Scout camp continues the 5 star streak.

I was reading…

One Year Ago: I didn’t love a book that ended up becoming a critical darling.

Two Years Ago: I was reading one of my favorite books of 2015 and one I’m still recommending often.

How was your reading week?

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29 Comments

  1. Glad to hear you’re getting back on the road again. If you think about the treadmill vs the road, you do run differently, since on the treadmill you aren’t running forward, you’re working against the treadmill. Glad you are enjoying the yoga!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Good point. I haven’t been back on since that terrible day 🙂

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  2. Beth F wrote:

    Hearts of Men is definitely on my list as is The Fall of Lisa Bellow. Hoping to get more reading time in the upcoming weeks. Glad your back is on the mend. If you run on grass, dirt, or cider, it might be less jarring than the hard surface of the treadmill (just making a guess here).

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yes – def…but I’m running mostly on streets or sidewalks. Wish I had some good grass to run on.

      I started Hears of Men…enjoying first 25%…very nostalgic. Hope your editing schedule settles down soon!

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  3. I was curious about The Hearts of Men, but haven’t read the author before. I’ll be waiting to hear how you like it. I was hoping you’d started Gargoyle Hunter. I’m getting close to bailing on it.

    Glad you back is starting to feel better. It’s hard to wait these things out!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Ugh – sad to hear about Gargoyle Hunters. I’ll probably give it a shot, but not press too hard if I’m not enjoying it.

      I’ll let you know about Hearts of Men – I’m only 25% in so far.

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  4. I listened to The Rules Do Not Apply and really liked it even though parts are pretty sad.

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      There are definitely super sad parts, but I didn’t consider it a sad book overall. Glad you liked it!

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  5. Majanka wrote:

    The Woman Next Door looks interesting. I hope you enjoy your books!

    Here’s my It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
  6. Akilah wrote:

    When you run on the treadmill, you have a different stride than when you run on the ground, which can have all kinds of effects on your body. If it’s causing you pain, one alternative would be to do water jogging since it would take pressure off your joints. Of course, then you have to get in the pool, so there is that.

    I hope the pain gets better soon.

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      That’s interesting that your stride is totally different on the treadmill. I’d never thought about that before, but it makes sense. And my mom suggested water jogging too! The pool that I have access to is open at odd hours (i.e. not convenient) unfortunately. But running outdoors feels good at least!

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  7. Kay wrote:

    I’m definitely not a treadmill expert, but I know that my strides and gait are different when I’m walking there and walking ‘naturally’. Even when I’m at the indoor track at my local rec center. I prefer the ‘natural’, even though we have treadmill. And being the ‘little bit clumsy’ person that I am, I have to pay a lot more attention so I don’t stumble. Once saw the woman on the treadmill beside me at a gym do a total wipeout (like they had to call an ambulance) and it’s made me cautious ever since.

    I think I want to try THE FALL OF LISA BELLOW and was suspecting that the suspense was not the focus, but the characters. Good to have that confirmed. Have a good week and good luck with your back!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Lisa Bellow is a really good book – just have the right expectations going in.

      And – the difference in stride seems to be a running theme in this comments section!

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  8. I am intrigued by The Woman Next Door…and The Rules Do Not Apply looks like the kind of memoir I enjoy.

    Thanks for sharing…and I hope your back feels better soon!

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
  9. Michelle wrote:

    I know my cross-country running son detests the treadmill with every fiber of his being. He would rather not run than run on one. I know you run differently on a treadmill than you do outside on any surface, and I know the differences can impact knees and hips. It makes sense that it would affect your back as well. The baby steps are good though! Hopefully, you will start seeing even more improvement in the days to come!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thanks for the tip! And my back issue also extends to my right hip – actually it probably originated there. I do know the hips are so integrated with the back and tight hips can cause back problems.

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  10. Kathy Martin wrote:

    These books are all new to me. I hope you enjoy the ones coming soon. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
  11. Julia wrote:

    The Woman Next Door sounds right up my alley. I’ll have to check it out! Best wishes on your recovery, and happy reading!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
  12. The Rules Do Not Apply sounds good.

    The Woman Next Door looks good too.

    ENJOY your reading week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
  13. Andi wrote:

    I always find so many great looking new-to-me books here, Sarah! Continued good wishes for your back recovery!

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Awh – thank you 🙂

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  14. Greg wrote:

    Sorry to hear about your back! Hope your rehab goes smoothly and quick.

    I’m not a fan of the treadmill, when I ran I much preferred to be outside.

    I didn’t know that The Hearts of Men was by the same author as Shotgun Lovesongs. I remember that one from a couple (?) years ago?

    Posted 3.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yes – such a fantastic book!

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  15. Sorry to hear about your back. I hope you recover quickly. It sounds like you had a terrific reading week!

    Posted 3.14.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thank you 🙂

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  16. Tara wrote:

    I can hardly believe that The Unraveling of Mercy Louis was two years ago; Keija needs to write faster – hahaha! I’m so happy to hear that you continue to make progress on your recovery; great work! I may have to check out The Rules Do Not Apply; I am definitely intrigued by your description! Hope this week is a little better for you.

    Posted 3.14.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I know, right?! I feel like she was working on something as of awhile back…maybe she mentioned something on Twitter?

      And I actually thought of you after finishing Rules – I do think you will really love it. It’s raw and honest.

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply
  17. Wait. What? What did I miss?! I’m glad your heart rate is normal and your back is better that you can at least jog a bit. I know you’ll have another triathlon in the works soon.

    I’m still iffy on Lisa Bellows. I’m just not sure it’s for me. However, The Rules Do Not Apply looks pretty good. Have a better week this week than last.

    Posted 3.14.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I hope to do another triathlon next year – going to take this year off to let my body recover a bit.

      The Rules Do Not Apply ended being great – raw and honest.

      Posted 3.14.17 Reply

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