It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (12/5/16)

Hosted by The Book Date.

I took last week off from this post to share my Books that Make Perfect Holiday Gifts 2016 list, but you can check out what I read in my November Monthly Round-Up.

Our house is still a disaster zone from the flood, but we did find out that work will begin this week on repairing the basement and upper floor walls and ceilings. And, the best news is that the main and upstairs floors won’t have to be redone for awhile, so we won’t have to temporarily relocate. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel! On the reading front, I spent the last two weeks sneaking in a final few 2016 releases before moving onto my annual December backlist TBR reading and 2017 releases. I’ll also be participating in some of the A Month of Favorites events through the end of December.

I finished reading…

Miller's Valley, Anna Quindlen


Miller’s Valley
 by Anna Quindlen (April 5, 2016)

Believe it or not, this is my first foray into Anna Quindlen – thanks to Catherine at Gilmore Guide for giving me the push! This quiet, uncomplicated, yet satisfying coming of age/family saga and story of small-town life reminded me of a less hard-hitting version of Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth with a touch of girl power for good measure. The writing was chock full of wise observations about life, filling my notes with passages labeled “so true.” Miller’s Valley would also make a great holiday gift for mothers, mother-in-laws, grandmothers, aunts, etc.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

We Were the Lucky Ones, Georgia Hunter


We Were the Lucky Ones
by Georgia Hunter (February 14, 2017)

I’m jumping the gun a bit here, but that’s because the author of this debut novel is a friend of mine from college! The book is based on the true story of Hunter’s Polish Jewish family’s efforts to reunite after being separated during World War II. I’m only 25% in so far, but the story has already gotten incredibly intense and I’m invested in the fates of these people.
Affiliate Link: Pre-Order from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

Undoing Project, Michael Lewis


The Undoing Project
 by Michael Lewis (December 6, 2016)

I’m a huge Michael Lewis fan, so of course I have to squeeze his latest book into my 2016 reading (this will probably be the last 2016 release I read this year). This time around, he’s focusing on two Israeli psychologists (Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky), whose research into the human decision-making process drove much of today’s behavioral economics field (which I’ve been delving into on audio a fair amount this year).

How was your reading week?

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27 Comments

  1. Lindsay wrote:

    I just saw “We Were the Lucky Ones” somewhere else and the cover caught my eye. I’ll have to give it a look. How exciting that you know the author!

    I’ve never read Anna Quindlen either (or Ann Patchett, for that matter) but both of those books are on my to-read list. I actually had “Commonwealth” in for me at the library but they were trying to give me a 7-day copy(?!) so I had to give it back. 🙁

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I hope you do give Lucky Ones a try!

      And definitely make time for Commonwealth…somehow!

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  2. Amanda wrote:

    I’ve never read Michael Lewis before but I really want to after watching The Big Short. Where’s a good place to start?

    Amanda @ A Bookshelf Monstrosity

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I think my favorite Lewis books were The Big Short, The Blind Side, and Boomerang (a collection of essays about the 2008 crash – each focusing on a different country and why that country got hammered…it’s as much cultural as financial).

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  3. Beth F wrote:

    Reading in December is usually disaster for me. No spare time! I actually like Anna Quindlen’s nonfiction better than her fiction. You should give some of it a try.

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  4. I’ll be excited to hear what you think of We Were the Lucky Ones. I finally got my copy and am really looking forward to it. I’ve never read Anna Quindlen or Michael Lewis!

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’m about 40% through now and it’s a fast read, especially for a WWII book. I’m super into the story.

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  5. I loved the audio of Miller’s Valley. The Undoing Project sounds really good!

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  6. I love Anna Quindlen, and thoroughly enjoyed Miller’s Valley. As I was reading Commonwealth, I thought of the similarities between the books, too.

    The Lucky Ones looks like a book I would enjoy.

    Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Glad I wasn’t totally off on that comparison then!

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  7. Michelle wrote:

    I’ve been trying to get to some backlist reads as well. The thought of starting 2017 review copies right now leaves me a little cold, even though I am excited about reading them. I guess I do not want to read them until 2017, if that makes sense.

    That is good news on the house. Hopefully, the repairs are quick and painless for you, and you can get back to a semblance of normalcy soon!

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I hear you on 2017 releases…I’m just reading this one b/c it was written by a friend. Then I’ll go back to backlist and re-start 2017 releases around Xmas.

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  8. So glad you get to stay in your house! It is still stressful but not nearly as bad as being kicked out for months. Hang in there.

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      100% agree!

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  9. Kathy Martin wrote:

    These books are all new to me. I’ve finished my December calendar and still have lots of books I bought to read. I need to stop accepting so many review books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I hear you on review books..I’ve really tried to cut back over the last 6 months or so!

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  10. Donna wrote:

    I hope you enjoy your reading. Girl Who Reads.

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  11. Melinda wrote:

    Oh, I’m definitely interested in “We Were the Lucky Ones,” although it sounds like I need to be emotionally prepared for it (well….I have 2 months to prepare!)

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s definitely intense, but not quite as brutal as it could be. It feels fast, too.

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  12. Tara wrote:

    I think I may need to “jump the gun” a bit, too; I’m really looking forward to Georgia’s book. After seeing your enjoyment of Miller’s Valley via Twitter, I remembered that I’d been planning to read this, back in the spring…whoops! I forget about so many books as the year goes by! I may need to try it out; thanks for the reminder!

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yes – definitely read Miller’s Valley! Would actually make a nice follow-up to Georgia’s. Something comforting after all the WWII brutality.

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  13. Athira wrote:

    Sorry about the flooding! But I am glad that you don’t have to relocate!! That is definitely a relief. Hope things move soon so that you guys don’t have to think about this for long.

    We Were the Lucky Ones sounds terrific! Can’t wait to see what you think.

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      So far, so good! I’ll keep you posted and hope you give it a read!

      Posted 12.5.16 Reply
  14. Catherine wrote:

    Yes to Quindlen’s writing style. She’s one of those authors whose words I read over and over because she gets to the heart of things so beautifully. I’m really glad you enjoyed the book and thanks for the shout out!

    I’m safely ensconced in frothy chick-lit land which is just fine. I have no more December releases to read so am going to intersperse January reading with backlist library books. All I need to do is write January reviews as SOOn as I finish the book!

    Glad about the house news. Temp housing would have been a nightmare.

    Posted 12.5.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I’m with you on Quindlen’s writing style…that’s what really pulled me in. 3 cheers for chicklit!

      Posted 12.7.16 Reply
  15. Toady wrote:

    Oh, I see that you just finished up Miller’s Valley. I will plan on picking it back up and reading it since I believe it is still on my shelf.

    Posted 12.11.16 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Hope it goes well!

      Posted 12.12.16 Reply

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