It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (3/27/17)

After the stumbling block of two weeks ago, my reading is now back on track in a big way. I absolutely adored the book I read last week and have had back-to-back fantastic audiobooks. I never talk much about the audiobooks I listen to because I find that listening to them with the intent to review makes me enjoy them less, but I do occasionally mention them if they really wow me. So, you’re getting a couple of those this week.

My son’s and my March Madness brackets fell apart a bit yesterday. The only team we have left alive is Gonzaga. It was a good run while it lasted!

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I finished reading…

The Wanderers, The Strange in the Woods

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (March 14, 2017)
I absolutely loved this book…it’s one of my favorites so far this year. It’s been compared to Station Eleven and The Martian, but I think it’s closest to being a much more subtle and philosophical version of The Martian. Review to come.
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The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel (March 7, 2017)
This is story of “the last true hermit” is the best audiobook I’ve listened to this year. It’s strange, yet captivating and is perfect for fans of Jon Krakauer (particularly Into the Wild) and Quiet by Susan Cain (yes, I realize this is an odd pair of comparisons). It will make an appearance on my 2017 Summer Reading Guide for sure!

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I’m currently reading…

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti (March 28, 2017)
I’m about 25% through this literary thriller/coming of age novel and I like it, but it’s not blowing my mind at this point. I do feel invested in the characters, though, so am looking forward to seeing what happens to them.

What I Talk about When I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami (July 29, 2008)
I’d been hearing about this memoir from the Japanese literary sensation (author of 1Q84) for years, but a chapter in Will Schwalbe’s Books for Living was what really got me interested in it. It’s about long distance running (duh), writing, solitude, triathlons, and changing the way you live your life. I adore it.

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Upcoming reading plans…

I should probably get started on April releases, but this book I’ve had my eye on for months just came in from the library!

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, Kathleen Rooney


Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
 by Kathleen Rooney (January 17, 2017)
I’m hoping this story about an 85 year-old woman who reflects on her life as she takes a walk around Manhattan in 1984 will be a new addition to my badass ladies reading category.

I was reading…

One Year Ago: I’d just finished The Nest and was starting a couple blah books.

Two Years Ago: I was reading potential books for my 2015 Summer Reading Guide.

How was your reading week?

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30 Comments

  1. Pat @ PFN wrote:

    Looks like you have some great reading ahead. Enjoy your week.

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  2. I’m reading Dead Letters and I can’t put it down. Dying to find out where and what Zelda has got herself up to!

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  3. Kathy Martin wrote:

    These are all new to me. I hope you enjoy Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk. It sounds interesting. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  4. My daughter loved What I Talk About When I Talk About Running and I though Lillian Boxfish was excellent! Hope you like it, too.

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  5. I’ve been really curious about The Wanderers and now hearing how much you liked it, I may try to squeeze it in next month. The Stranger in the Woods sounds good, too! I loved Samuel Hawley!

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  6. Yay for a good reading week! I’m going to try to remember The Stranger in the Woods the next time I have an Audible credit.

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yay!

      Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  7. Tara wrote:

    The Stranger in the Woods will be on my list of favorites this year, for sure; I can’t stop thinking/talking about it! I’m super intrigued by The Wanderers now – gah! Why are you always adding to my list? 😉 I’m excited to hear how things progress for you with Samuel Hawley.

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Haha! Glad you loved Stranger – it’s definitely one of my faves of the year so far and an easy one to recommend to others (which I love).

      So…Have you read Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running? I thought of you as I was listening…

      Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  8. Majanka wrote:

    The Stranger in the Woods looks very interesting. I hope you enjoy your books this week!

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

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  9. I loved Lillian Boxfish…hope you do, too. I am curious about The Stranger in the Woods…but haven’t read Krakauer….and didn’t like Quiet very much. Parts of it were enjoyable, I must admit, but it had sections that reminded me of textbooks I read in college and loved at the time…but a repeat of them felt tedious. LOL.

    Thanks for sharing…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yay – glad to hear good reports on Boxfish! And I definitely skimmed parts of Quiet that felt really textbook-y, but the other parts and general philosophy made me love it. Beauty of being able to skim now that we’re adults!

      Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  10. Naomi wrote:

    I’ve got The Stranger in the Woods on hold at the library. Hermits fascinate me. 🙂

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  11. Laurie C wrote:

    A very interesting reading list! I am intrigued by The Wanderers and Lillian Boxfish, especially, and will add them both to my TBR. I’m going to read Quiet with my library book club for April, and maybe I’ll do a print/audio combination. I don’t read much print nonfiction, so when I do, it has to be really gripping! On audio it goes down better, sometimes.

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Uh oh – Quiet isn’t super gripping. It reads like a textbook at many places, but I just skimmed those. The general ideas really resonated with me and I’m glad I read it…with the skimming of course!

      Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  12. Michelle wrote:

    The ending of The Wanderers still gives me chills. Was it real? Was it fake? (I know it doesn’t matter because it is not the point of the story, but that was the point where the novel went from meh for me to good.)

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I know, right?! Loved that whole vibe. I loved the book before that point, but that made it even better. Loved all the psychological stuff and the viewpoint of the families.

      Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  13. Wanderers is on my wishlist. It’s Monday, What Are You Reading

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  14. Keep me posted on the Tinti book! My friend is reading it soon and she is THE MOST excited about it, so I’m hoping that it will be excellent. Maybe it will pick up and you will grow to love it! (she said optimistically)

    Posted 3.27.17 Reply
  15. Lindsay wrote:

    Oooh, all the books! “The Wanderers” (I’m especially intrigued by this one!), “Stranger,” and “Samuel Hawley” are all on my to-read list. And I actually won “Lillian Boxfish” from Goodreads and I’m hoping to get to it soon. Isn’t that cover pretty? And the plot sounds very promising! I like the idea of Lillian reminiscing about all the things she’s seen and done in her long, full life.

    Posted 3.28.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I really enjoyed Lillian! A quiet, but delightful read.

      Posted 4.4.17 Reply
  16. Kate Elkins wrote:

    Finished Dead Letters this weekend. I have a reaction, but can’t afford to say (spoiler alert!). Maybe I could message you on Goodreads or your website? I would love to know if you agree. Lillian Boxfish sounds charming!

    Posted 3.28.17 Reply
  17. Madeline wrote:

    I’m almost finished with “Dead Letters” and loving it!

    A friend just gave me “The Evenings” — first published in 1947 but only now translated to English. I guess my library holds will have to wait.

    Posted 3.28.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yay!

      Posted 4.4.17 Reply
  18. I didn’t know Lillian Boxfish was set in 1984… it makes it all the more tempting!

    Posted 3.29.17 Reply
  19. Yesterday, Monday, I read Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I am pretty sure it will be one of, if not the top, favorite of his books for me. Today I am reading The Mothers by Brit Bennett, because of the interview with her on The Millions yesterday.

    Posted 3.29.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I LOVED The Mothers…hope you did too!

      Posted 4.4.17 Reply
  20. Barrie wrote:

    I adore your list! I almost got the Stranger in the Woods for my hubs because he will only ever read nonfiction- sounds so good- I would totally do the audio myself so glad you loved it- Also had the Haruki book on my list, but was afraid I’d be bored of reading about running- very tricky to make that a whole book, done well, I think. Nice pics!

    Posted 3.29.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      The Murakami book is about running, but also about so much more. It’s more about how to live your life and running is discussed throuhg that lens. I’d give it a shot..plus, it’s super short!

      Posted 4.4.17 Reply

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