It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (4/17/17)

I was visiting family last week in Virginia and we got some gloriously warm weather! It reminded me how much I miss Spring (we haven’t really had a true Spring the last few years where I live). We did some Easter egg hunting, my son played a ton of basketball (his new obsession) and I got some good reading in.

Right now, I’m trying to cram in a final few possibilities for the Summer Reading Guide (which will be coming out in mid-May), so I’m focused on lighter books.

And, the limited time free trial of Personalized Book Recommendations from Sarah’s Book Shelves will launch this Thursday! If you’re looking for a fantastic book to give to your mom or dad for Mother’s / Father’s Day, I can help you with that! If you’re just looking for the perfect book for yourself, I can help with that too! Look for a blog post on Thursday with sign-up information.

Hosted by The Book Date.

This post contains affiliate links.

I finished reading…

If We Were Villains, Anything is Possible


If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (April 11, 2017)

If you loved The Secret History and/or Black Chalk, buy this book immediately! It’s the dark campus novel I’ve been craving ever since reading Black Chalk a couple years ago (bonus if you love Shakespeare, but not necessary at all to love this book). Review to come.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout (April 25, 2017)
This companion book to My Name Is Lucy Barton grew on me the farther I read and reminded me how much I enjoy the beautiful simplicity of Strout’s writing. A great pick for fan’s of Lucy Barton, but you do not need to have read Lucy Barton to enjoy these stories! Also a great choice for someone who is new to short stories.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

The Takedown, Corrie Wang


The Takedown by Corrie Wang (April 11, 2017)
This is the first YA novel I’ve read in ages and it’s totally addictive! I’d categorize it as demented high school students set in the near future with a focus on social media and technology.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

Startup, Doree Shafrir


Startup
 by Doree Shafrir (April 25, 2017)
This tech world satire was my April Book of the Month selection and I’m hoping it will make a good addition to my 2017 Summer Reading Guide.

I was reading…

One Year Ago: I was smack in the middle of a reading slump.

Two Years Ago: I’d just finished the very looong sequel to Greg Iles’ Natchez Burning.

How was your reading week?

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18 Comments

  1. Kathy Martin wrote:

    The Takedown sounds good to me. I haven’t heard of it before. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  2. I’m so glad you liked Villains! Since reading Catherine’s review I’ve been really curious about The Takedown. I usually avoid YA, but this may be one I need to consider. The demented part really appeals to me!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I usually run for the hills from YA, but this one was pretty awesome. The whole tech world she created was fascinating/scary.

      Posted 4.18.17 Reply
  3. Can’t wait to read Elizabeth Strout’s new book! I always enjoy her work.

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s GOOD!

      Posted 4.18.17 Reply
  4. Sounds like y’all had a good visit. We really haven’t had much winter here the past few years. The Demented sounds really good.

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  5. Beth F wrote:

    I loved Anything Is Possible! Exciting new venture!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  6. Michelle wrote:

    The Takedown sounds like one I would love. Startup was one of my BOTM choices this month as well. It sounds great, and I hope you enjoy it!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’m about 100 pages into it and it’s really fun so far!

      Posted 4.18.17 Reply
  7. I’m curious about If We Were Villains…and I’m pondering Anything Is Possible. I was not as intrigued with Lucy Barton as I’d hoped, but enough so to consider the “companion book.”

    Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s not exactly like Lucy, but it is a quieter book like Lucy is.

      Posted 4.18.17 Reply
  8. Melinda wrote:

    If We Were Villains looks fantastic! I hadn’t heard of it before, but I’m definitely adding it to my wishlist now!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  9. I had a good reading week. I finished the new Joyce Carol Oates, A Book of American Martyrs. I thought it was astonishing! I read an old Arthur C Clarke book, Glide Path, from my 1963 reading list. Yesterday I read in its entirety Scrapper by Matt Bell. Dark, psychological, disturbing and great.

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  10. Tara wrote:

    EEEK! I’m trying to decide if I might prefer to read The Takedown or The Wanderers on my trip later this week (will travel from Arkansas to Seattle, so I’ll have some time to kill!); they both sound so intriguing!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  11. I finished one paperback and two ebooks last week. I’m back from my trip. It didn’t turn out as planned but we had fun. Come see what we did and what I read.

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  12. I don’t read a lot of YA, but The Takedown has been on my radar. I may get a copy for my daughter to read this summer and then conveniently borrow it. I’m probably going to skip the Strout, as I’m one of the few who didn’t enjoy Lucy Barton.

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  13. Greg wrote:

    It finally got warm here so it feels like spring, it’s nice to go outside and not freeze or get rained on constantly! Glad you had nice weather in VA as well.

    The Takedown does sound really interesting with that description!

    Posted 4.17.17 Reply
  14. Catherine wrote:

    I’m still waiting on Villains from the library (Netgalley is ignoring me), but could use another suspenseful novel.

    I’m reading A Line Made by Walking and am thinking it is absolutely the WRONG time for me. The story of a twenty-something artist who has lost her way and is basically clinically depressed. Reading her thoughts is making me depressed. Great writing, but not for right now.

    Posted 4.19.17 Reply

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