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Last week, I dug into May releases…with some hits and misses. I also read my first hardcover book (Startup) in at least a year and was reminded that reading hardcovers is completely cumbersome and doesn’t fit my current read-on-the-go lifestyle! Miraculously, I still really enjoyed the book.
And, I’ve apparently become so disenchanted by American thrillers (I’ve been craving a great one and keep getting disappointed) that I’ve now gone abroad. I’m attempting French and Australian thrillers this week. If these work, I might never come home…
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I finished reading…
This is the first YA novel I’ve enjoyed in years…it’s unique, fun, juicy, and provides an interesting/terrifying look at where technology and social media could go! Look for it on my 2017 Summer Reading Guide (coming in mid-May).
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Startup
Startup was my second book in a row involving the technology world and was a fun, easy read with biting social commentary, which I always love.
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I’m currently reading…
Based on a True Story
I’m about halfway through this French (it’s sold 500,000 copies in France!) psychological thriller about an author and a toxic friendship that is, like the title says, based on a true story. Man, is it creepy! I’m dying to know how this all plays out.
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I tried, but wasn’t feeling…
The Goodreads reviews for both these books are generally positive, so there’s a chance I could go back to them if someone I trust raves about them. But, based on their openings, I decided not to be the guinea pig.
The Leavers
I thought I would enjoy this highly anticipated debut about a boy who grows up with white parents after his biological mother (an undocumented Chinese immigrant) goes missing, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and kept zoning out. DNF at 13%.
This novel about a community of Indian Americans living in Cleveland was billed as being funny, but I didn’t get that at all. Granted, I didn’t make it very far, but I also kept zoning out as I was reading…never a good sign.
Upcoming reading plans…
The Dry
After months and months, my library hold finally came in for this Australian mystery that’s gotten tons of buzz…just in time to possibly be included in my Summer Reading Guide!
I was reading…
One Year Ago: Yikes! A bunch of blah books and general flailing!
Two Years Ago: Read what might end up being one of my all-time favorite books!
How was your reading week?
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Based on a True Story sounds right up my alley.
Just finished it – wow, does it ever mess with your head!
Nice assortment of books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I started to read Maria Semple’s new book but I kept zoning out. I don’t even remember the name of it. Back to the library it went. I picked up “The Home That Was Our Country”, a non-fiction account of growing up in Syria and it reads like a novel. So far, so good.
I heard her new one was nowhere near as good as Bernadette. Glad you’re enjoying your new read!
The Dry! I know I’ll love it. Must get to it NOW. In re Edgar & Lucy: If you’re going to give it a try, definitely read it in print. I think I’m fairly soured on it, though I may attempt it in print if my library has it.
Am about 100 pages into The Dry…so far, so good. I need a decent mystery b/c I have trouble with them and people ask me for those types of recs all the time!
The last couple of hardcovers I tried to read were both DNF books for me. I can’t help wondering it part of it wasn’t that I just don’t like the format anymore. I’m not very far into No One Can Pronounce My Name, so we’ll see?? The Dry looks good. Keep me posted on that one.
Glad to hear the recommendations are going well. It does sound like fun!
Haha – it definitely would be for me if I was on the fence about the book!
I also love the look of Based on a True Story…and Startup looks tempting. I enjoyed The Dry, too.
I agree about hardcovers! I didn’t think I would ever say that I don’t like reading hardcovers…but I do not! I seldom buy that format, but love having a few books visible on the shelves.
I prefer reading on my Kindle, though.
Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I agree about having hardcovers on the shelves for show! But, man, not my format of choice to actually read.
The Dry is going well so far!
I seem to always enjoy a good thriller, and your reaction to Based on a True Story definitely has me intrigued. I hope the ending is just as good as the rest of it!
Please please read it so I have someone to talk to about it!
I just finished The Takedown and really enjoyed it. I don’t read much YA anymore, but the premise (and buzz) around this one had me picking it up. I still enjoy reading hardcovers more than any other format. I don’t break the spines on my books, so paperbacks are more of a challenge. While I like my kindle, I like to see how far to the end of a chapter I am, and find that hard to do. Enjoy your reading week!
I don’t either, but this one was really fun!
Although you’re struggling with No One Can Pronounce My Name, I’m adding it to my wishlist. It was a busy week of reading, Girl Scouts, the Mandarin Showcase, and boxing up books. Come see what I’m reading.
I actually just finished an ARC of The Leavers and while I won’t rave about it because I didn’t love it, it got much, much better when you started to get the mom’s side of the story. I wish the whole book had been about the mom, honestly, because Deming/Daniel’s story was a struggle for me.
Good intel! I’m going to keep an eye out for some more feedback and not write off picking it up again quite yet.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about Based on a True Story. It’s hard to find a really great psychological thriller. The Dry is pretty good – different. Excited for your new service – sending you lots of virtual luck 🙂
Oh man, it totally messed with my head! Finished it last night! Read it – I need some people to discuss it with. And I agree about the psych thrillers…so tough to find good ones, but so satisfying when you do!
Oh no The Leavers is on my list for May. I’ll give it chance, you never know.
The Dry, ugh…I’ve been trying to get to that one.
The Dry is great so far – I’m 100 pages in now!
I am half way through Diane Setterfield’s, “The Thirteenth Tale.” This is remarkable writing. The characters and the choice of words make this a very “atmospheric” novel. I am totally drawn into the story, reading every minute I get.
Yay, I’m happy you liked The Takedown. It’s one that I very much want to read — the premise is nuts and I’m excited to see how the author plays it out. Just gotta wait for my library to get a copy in.
It’s a super unique YA, which I don’t normally read anymore, but this one stood out!