It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (10/24/16)

Hosted by The Book Date.

I hope everyone had an awesome Readathon on Saturday! I never participate because it’s always on the same day as the big Halloween parade our town puts on for the kids, which is one of my favorite activities of the year (it’s fun for the parents too…*cough*, to-go cups, *cough*). Sadly, this year’s parade was rescheduled because of bad weather. Yet, I still didn’t participate in the Readathon. On a more positive note, I currently have two books going on…one for peaceful reading environments and one for chaotic ones. This method might be the key to continued reading success given my life right now!

Finally, I was thrilled to be the this month’s featured book blogger at Parchment Girl. I love Kate’s blog (and this feature is a great way to find new blogs to follow) and had fun talking about food, Friday Night Lights, my dream superpower…and obviously books. Check it out!

I finished reading…

Hungry Heart, Jennifer Weiner


Hungry Heart
 by Jennifer Weiner (October 11, 2016)

This memoir surprised me in many ways…Weiner has been through far more than I imagined. And, also, there is a full chapter of Bachelor/ette commentary! Mini review coming.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

Miss Jane, Children of the New World


Miss Jane
 by Brad Watson (July 12, 2016)
This Southern, historical novel based on the author’s great-aunt was reviewed by Ed Tarkington (author of Only Love Can Break Your Heart) as part of #30Authors. I’m only 25% in, but I think I can get into this story if I’m reading in a relatively quiet atmosphere.

Children of the New World by Alexander Weinstein (September 13, 2016)
I’ve only read the first story in this speculative short stories collection, but I found it thought-provoking and weirdly funny. This is my current book for more chaotic reading locations (i.e. playgrounds, the gym, etc).

Upcoming reading plans…

Nonfiction November, anyone?!! I’ve participated for the past few years, but haven’t heard anything about it this year. Does anyone know if it’s happening? If not, I think I’m going to make my own Nonfiction November since I have a pile of books I’m excited to dig into.

How was your reading week?

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28 Comments

  1. Beth F wrote:

    Children of the NEw World sounds like something I might like.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’m still only one story in, but really liked that story and am looking forward to reading more. Library books have derailed me and I own New World, so it’s getting pushed aside in favor of library reads!

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  2. Sounds like having both quiet time and chaotic time reading material may be the perfect approach… wish I’d thought of it way back when!! I was wondering about Nonfiction November, too.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Haha – I’ve got to figure out something to still get some good reading time in with my kids’ schedules!

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  3. Meaghan wrote:

    I don’t know about Nonfiction November. Then again, I do NaNoWriMo each year, so it’s entirely possible I just miss it each time!

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Enjoy NaNoWriMo!

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  4. Loved your feature on Parchment Girl! Jennifer Weiner’s memoir sounds really good. It’s amazing how huge the list of books I want to read has become!

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Thank you 🙂 It’s not earth shattering, but a solid read if you like dysfunctional childhood memoirs or reading about the writer’s life.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  5. I never do the readathon because our weekends are our busiest time.

    Kim usually hosts Nonfiction November but she’s out of the blogging loop right now because her boyfriend passed away. Maybe someone else could do it this year.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Same here – it’d be much easier for me to do it if it were on a weekday. Maybe there should be a retirees/stay at home moms version on a weekday!

      Oh yes – that makes sense. I forgot she normally hosts it. I think I’ll do some sort of informal Nonfiction Nov since I have books set aside that I’m psyched to read! Just focus my reading and put up a few nonfiction focused posts.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  6. Lindsey wrote:

    I will keep an eye out for your thoughts on Hungry Heart. I wasn’t sure it was going to make it to my tbr list, but I’m always open to persuasion!

    Have a great week, Sarah!

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I haven’t read Weiner’s fiction in forever, but was interested in her memoir b/c she’s interesting to follow on Twitter – good commentary! Figured that could translate to a good memoir.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  7. Michelle wrote:

    The Halloween parade sounds like a blast! It’s too bad it had to be postponed, but I guess that means you get to look forward to it all over again!

    I suspect Nonfiction November is a no-go unless someone else picks it up this year. Kim is just not blogging these days while she is still grieving.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Oh yes – that makes sense. I forgot she normally hosts it. I think I’ll do some sort of informal Nonfiction Nov since I have books set aside that I’m psyched to read! Just focus my reading and put up a few nonfiction focused posts.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  8. I got a copy of Hungry Heart this week…and I’m curious about Miss Jane.

    I need to accept my inability(unwillingness?) to do readathons, since I prefer to do other things during the weekend. Being retired, I can read any time I want…so that’s how I divide my time.

    Thanks for sharing…and have a great week. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Haha -I was just saying to someone else that there should be a special weekday Readathon for retirees and stay at home moms!

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  9. I bought Children of the New World a few weeks ago. I’m looking forward to reading it.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
  10. Amanda wrote:

    I’m glad Hungry Heart was a good read. Weiner just always seems likeable to me so I’ll have to pick that up. I still have an ARC of Miss Jane on my kindle so I need to get to that it sounds like.

    I was wondering the same thing about Nonfiction November this morning, but it completely makes sense that Kim wouldn’t be up for hosting this year. I have some great books waiting at the library so they’ll just be my unofficial Nonfic November choices.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      She definitely comes across as likable in Hungry Heart…until she talked about her birthing plan for her first child…then I wanted to shake sense into her!

      Totally makes sense that Kim wouldn’t host this year – I’d forgotten she was one of the hosts. I think I’ll do some sort of informal Nonfiction Nov since I have books set aside that I’m psyched to read! Just focus my reading and put up a few nonfiction focused posts.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  11. I like your new reading plan of one book for peaceful environments and another for more hectic. I often find I don’t pick up my book because too much is going on etc. Although lately, I find myself being more and more jarred by noise when reading or concentrating in general, more so than previously, which is a little concerning really.

    Anyway, I hope you have a great week, and happy reading!

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      For me, it’s kind of necessity b/c I don’t have many opportunities to read b/c of the kids’ schedules…and many of them are at the park, or while they’re in some class or sports practice, or at the gym. I was having trouble trying to read certain types of books in those atmosphere.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  12. I’ve always enjoyed Nonfiction November. If it’s not happening, then I’m totally doing it on my own!

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness usually hosts it and she has been out of blogging for a bit since her boyfriend passed away. I’d forgotten she was the main host. I think I’ll do some sort of informal Nonfiction Nov since I have books set aside that I’m psyched to read! Just focus my reading and put up a few nonfiction focused posts.

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  13. Catherine wrote:

    I’ve heard really good things about Miss Jane- thanks for vetting it for me!

    I’m doing nothing but safety reading- chick-lit and English historical fiction.

    I’m in for NF November! No matter what, I have at least 3 titles I want to get through.

    Posted 10.24.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      So, I hear it’s not happening this year b/c Kim is one of the main hosts. I think I’ll do some sort of informal Nonfiction Nov since I have books set aside that I’m psyched to read! Just focus my reading and put up a few nonfiction focused posts.

      I could throw up a link-up on one of them since I’ve heard a couple others mention they’ll do it on their own too? But, I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or anything. Thoughts?

      Posted 10.25.16 Reply
  14. Ah, I’m in the middle of Hungry Heart and loving it, and loving Ms. Weiner’s honest sharing in it. She’s such a cool person and now I want to read more of her books. I’ve only read maybe half of them so far.

    Enjoy your week and have fun catching up on your reading.

    Posted 10.25.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I loved her honesty too – it’s so refreshing! And I read her fiction years ago, but it’s been quite awhile since I last picked one up.

      Posted 10.27.16 Reply
  15. Athira wrote:

    I had to miss the readathon too. It’s been a while since I have done it and I doubt that unless I book a hotel for the day that I will be able to do any serious reading.

    Posted 10.26.16 Reply

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