Look at this…I’m out of my hole! I haven’t written a Monday update in a couple weeks because of various holidays, so lots to cover today. This past week was supposed to get back to normal, but like much of the country, school was canceled for a couple days and it still feels like we’re on holiday break.
While I wasn’t posting Monday updates, I did share:
- Best Books of 2017
- 2017 Blogging and Reading Stats
- 2017 Books I Missed
- Best Audiobooks I Listened to in 2017
- My Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2018
- What to Expect from Sarah’s Book Shelves in 2018
Finally, my Rock Your Reading Tracker will be available for purchase on Thursday! If you want to avoid compiling end of year reading stats in 2018, this is your ticket!
Hosted by The Book Date.
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I finished reading…
The Virgin Suicides
I had to read this after Annie Spence raved about it in Dear Fahrenheit 451 (which you should also read)! It’s gorgeously written, nostalgic, and wistful. And, Eugenides created simmering tension that had me almost as obsessed with the Lisbon sisters as the neighborhood boys were. PS – the first and last lines are among the best ones I’ve ever read.
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Anatomy of a Scandal
An easy read that I didn’t mind in the beginning, but that I was kind of hate-reading by the end. Mini review coming.
Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs
This memoir told in an unique format came recommended by Annie Jones at From the Front Porch podcast (one of my Go-To Recommendation Sources) and was clever, witty, and delightfully random. I read it in under two hours if you’re looking for a super short one!
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Books I Read While on my December Monday Update Hiatus
- BEST BOOK OF DECEMBER: Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan (excellent, mini review coming soon, out on 1/9)
- The Party
by Elizabeth Day (decent, but not great)
- Better Than Before
by Gretchen Rubin (better than The Happiness Project
, audiobook)
- The Prisoner in His Palace
by Will Bardenwerper (kind of interesting, audiobook)
- The Immortalists
by Chloe Benjamin (okay, didn’t live up to the hype, mini review coming soon, out on 1/9)
- A Short Guide to a Happy Life
by Anna Quindlen (a graduation address, audiobook)
I’m currently reading…
The Wife Between Us
I’m only 15% through this psychological thriller (yet another with “wife” in the title), but I’m not turned off yet (which is rare for a psychological thriller for me!) and hope that continues!
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Upcoming reading plans…
I’m hoping to fit in a library hold or two before starting on my February releases…
Turtles All the Way Down
I haven’t read John Green since The Fault in Our Stars, but I’ve heard his latest is particularly poignant and well-done. I suspended by library hold until January 8, so I’m hoping I get my hands on it this week!
I was reading…
One Year Ago: I’d finished reading Chris Bohjalian’s 2017 January thriller (which has sort of become an annual thing).
Two Years Ago: I was reading one of my favorite books of 2016 by an author I’m hoping will release a sophomore novel this year!
How was your reading week?
Looks like some great selections here. Have a great week!
Oh I’m so curious to hear what you think of The Wife Between Us! I’ve seen several negative reviews popping up amongst the raves so I can’t wait to hear where you fall. I’m on a psych thriller hiatus but that could always change:) Anatomy of a Scandal wasn’t for me, I didn’t like the writing style and just skimmed from middle to end. Adding the Virgin Suicides to my tbr!
I DNF’d it 🙁 Was ok, but seemed like just another run of the mill thriller, which is not what I was looking for. I went on a psych thriller hiatus a year ago, I’m dipping my toe back in.
Ended up skimming the end of Scandal as well….so disappointing.
I’m interested in The Wife Between Us–awaiting your review. Right now I’m reading Emma in the Night. It’s not grabbing me like I thought it would, tho.
DNF’d it 🙁 Did Emma ever pick up for you? I loved that one!
I love Jeffrey Eugenides! Glad you like this and hope you read more his work. I listened to The Immortalists and LOVED it. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
The Virgin Suicides is for sure my favorite of Eugenides! I read Middlesex and Marriage Plot too and liked them, but not as much as Virgin Suicides.
I know I’m in the minority on Immortalists – haha!
I finished Turtles All the Way Down last night! Such a great depiction of anxiety/obsessive thoughts! I really liked it!
I tried it, but couldn’t get into the writing. Felt too YA for me. But also tried it during a crazy week in my personal life.
Dear Fahrenheit 451 made me want to read The Virgin Suicides, too. Kudos to you for getting to it so quickly!
Haha! Almost impossible to avoid after that! It’s super short, so that helped.
Can’t wait to see how you like The Wife Between Us. Finished reading Little Fires Everywhere (loved) and Artemis (good).
Unfortunately I DNF’d Wife Between Us 🙁
And I loved Little Fires…not so much Artemis.
I’ve avoided The Wife Between Us because of all the hype. I’ll be really interested to hear your thoughts. I definitely need to read Tell Me More. That may be my next nonfiction. Hope it warms up soon!
I think you’d love Tell Me More! It’s super short too..
Girl, it’s like we have one mind. I was hesitant to say anything negative about The Immortalists because it is yet another book that people seem to love but outside of Simon’s story I struggled to see the point.
Haha – YES! Man, I’m so in the minority on that one and Simon’s part was the only high point for me as well.
It’s been really cold here but school hasn’t been cancelled until today when the northern part of the county is supposed to get ice.
Heating & Cooling sounds right up my alley.
OK, THE IMMORTALISTS is on my radar and also THE WIFE BETWEEN US. Right now, I’m reading LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and liking it a lot. A lot. I’ve never read THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, but I did see the movie. I loved that author’s MIDDLESEX. Ought to read this one too.
Glad you’re liking Little Fires! I ended up DNFing Wife Between Us.
Nice assortment of books. John Green is one of those authors I keep meaning to read but never seem to actually choose. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I loved The Wife Between Us…and I’ll be starting Anatomy of a Scandal this week. Enjoy your books…I love your reading corner.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I was surprisingly pleased with The Wife Between Us; I’ll be curious to hear what you think! I hope you are able to get back into your “normal” routine soon; that is always so tough!
Happy Monday! Turtles All the Way Down is one of my next reads too — I’ve got way too many books checked out of the library right now, and I’m trying to read the short ones first so I can feel less bad about myself as a library patron. :p
I know there were a ton of books I missed last year, even with reading over a hundred. The kids are back in school but my husband has one more week off. Come see what I’m reading
I’ve seen the film adaptation of The Virgin Suicides but never picked up the book for some reason – glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. Also, like you, I haven’t picked up John Green since The Fault in our Stars, but I have heard so many positive thoughts on his latest novel – I hope you enjoy!
A wonderful week to you & happy reading!
Just want to go back to one of your favorite recent reads that you posted about: “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne. I’m 300 pages in and I love this story and this author’s writing. This one just moves right along and keeps the interest level at a high bar – and the characters are all “full of life.” I cannot think of another novel that I’ve read (recently or otherwise) that I’ve enjoyed so much. ….Ah, just recalled that “The Gold Coast” by Nelson DeMille was a book I enjoyed a whole lot also, another one with vivid characters and moved right along.
I really enjoyed The Immortalists, sorry it didn’t work as well for you I also liked The Wife Between Us, its one that you can get mixed up in, characters and time lines etc. I’m going to start Anatomy of a Scandal soon, hope it doesn’t drone on…ugh.
I too am loving Kelly Corrigan’s newest, hope to finish today.
So many great books publishing this month.
Sadly, Wife didn’t work out. But, thrilled you loved Tell Me More! It’s my favorite 2018 release so far!