What I’m Reading Now (12/24/18) – A Double Shot

Merry Christmas Eve! I couldn’t get it together to update you on my reading last week, but I had to make sure to get a post done today because the quality (not the quantity…because holiday chore overload!) has been awesome! I read mostly backlist books over the past few weeks and am just now starting my first 2019 release.

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There was big news for the blog last week! In case you missed it, Sarah’s Book Shelves is getting a podcast! Sarah’s Book Shelves Live will launch on Wednesday, January 2, but you can listen to a trailer NOW anywhere you listen to podcasts! More details here!

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This is happening, y’all! Sarah’s Book Shelves is getting a podcast (called Sarah’s Book Shelves Live)! Regular episodes will start airing on Wednesday, January 2, but you can listen to a 5 minute trailer NOW wherever you listen to podcasts (link in profile)! _ Each week, a bookish guest will share his/her book recommendations and join me for some real talk about books in this format: *2 Old Books He/She Loves *2 New Books He/She Loves *1 Book He/She Doesn’t Love *1 Upcoming Release He/She’s Excited About We’ll finish each episode with a lightening round-type game called “Rate It.” Occasionally, I’ll bring you special episodes like New Release Previews, Summer Reading Rundowns, Best Books of the Year discussions, and more! _ If you like the trailer, I’d love it if you could subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts! As a newbie, this will help a ton! And, sharing it with your reader friends and on social media won’t hurt either 😉 * * * * * #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgram #amreading #bookworms #instabooks #instabook #booktalk #booklovers #booklover #bibliophile #biblio #bookaddict #bookaddiction #igreads #booksofinstagram #badassbookbabes #podcasts #bookpodcast #bookpodcasts #sarahsbookshelveslivepodcast @tbretc @thereaderlyreport @itsbooktalk @novelvisits @gilmoreguide @georgiahunter @runningnreading

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I finished reading…

what I'm reading now

 

Silver Sparrowby Tayari Jones (January 1, 2011)
I loved it just as much as An American Marriage! Tayari Jones is now on my auto-buy list for sure. Mini review coming in a backlist round-up.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

The Kind Worth Killingby Peter Swanson (March 25, 2008)
A thriller I liked (this is rare)! Hooray! Mini review coming in a backlist round-up.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

How to Be Marriedby Jo Piazza (April 18, 2017) – AUDIOBOOK
Piazza’s memoir of her first year of marriage is part memoir and part travelogue as she investigates marriage culture in other countries. She gets real about the adjustment to marriage and opened my eyes to the rationale behind some marital traditions that aren’t accepted in our culture. Mini review coming later this week.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

One Day in Decemberby Josie Silver (October 16, 2018)
This romance novel has been all over the place lately and isn’t what I’d traditionally choose to read. But, so many of my trusted recommendation sources loved it that I gave it a shot. And, I liked it despite some plot points I didn’t quite buy and the exhausting Ross & Rachel dance (from Friends) between Laurie and Jack. But, a perfect book for this time of year and exactly what my overloaded brain needed.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

An Anonymous Girl

 

An Anonymous Girlby Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks (January 8, 2019)
I DNF’d The Wife Between Us (Pekkanen and Greer’s debut novel), but I’m riveted by this one so far (25%). It doesn’t feel like a true thriller…it has more of a quiet, unsettling vibe…which is much more up my alley than a straight-up thriller. Now I just need a big chunk of quiet time to plow through it.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

The Dreamers

 

The Dreamersby Karen Thompson Walker (January 15, 2019)
This slightly dystopian novel is getting tons of pre-publication buzz (it’s been compared to Station Eleven)…and Annie Jones (one of my top recommendation sources) has already read it and loved it.

was reading…

One Year Ago: It was Christmas Day.

Two Years Ago: It was the day after Christmas.

How was your reading week?

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13 Comments

  1. My book club read The Kind Worth Killing and we all liked it. Merry Christmas!

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  2. Beth F wrote:

    I need to put The Kind Worth Killing on my list. One Day in December was just what I needed, even though I pretty much never read romance or holiday books. Yes, I know what you mean about the plot, but I still had fun with it.

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
    • Steven wrote:

      The Kind Worth Killing had me stretching my belief boundaries (despite being fiction!). It was far fetched and just not comparable to so many more thrillers I have read.

      Posted 12.25.18 Reply
  3. I was denied An Anonymous Girl, so may make it my first 2019 audiobook. One of the narrators is Julie Whelan and she’s a favorite of mine. I only have 20 minutes left in The Dreamers and I REALLY like it. As I’ve been reading it Station Eleven does not really come to mind, but when I stop and think more about it I can see similarities. It’s been a riveting read. Have a wonderful Christmas, Sara!

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  4. I loved An Anonymous Girl…and An American Marriage, so Silver Sparrow is now on my list. I’ve also been eyeing One Day in December.

    Enjoy your reading and have a happy holiday season. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  5. Kathy Martin wrote:

    Nice assortment of books. I’m working on my January review books now. Come see my week here. Happy holidays and happy reading!

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  6. RK wrote:

    Merry Christmas Eve! Loved these mini reviews. I enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing. The Dreamers and An Anonymous Girl are both on my TBR.

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  7. Kelly Massry wrote:

    I’ve read and loved The Dreamers too!

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  8. How to be Married sounds good. Have fun with your podcast. My weekly update

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  9. Catherine wrote:

    I was so surprised to see you reading the December book. Seemed way too romance-y for me.

    I’m going to library online right now for Silver Sparrow. Mu backlist reading has been so great this month it would be nice to end on a high. I’m reading Louise Penny and she always works, but something different would be fun.

    Posted 12.24.18 Reply
  10. Jan wrote:

    I put my request in on NetGalley as soon as I heard Annie recommend The Dreamers. I finished it two days ago and loved it! Such a strong character-driven novel and the ending isn’t neatly tied up, which in this case I loved!

    I’m 35% into Anonymous Girl and like you, I’m enjoying the slow burn.

    I felt the same way about One Day in December. I wasn’t a huge fan of American Marriage but I might check out Silver Sparrow.

    I listened to West Cork, a true crime Audible original and enjoyed it. Not quite as good as season one of Serial but good.

    Merry Christmas!

    Posted 12.25.18 Reply
  11. Madeline wrote:

    “The Kind Worth Killing” was very good. But the others I’ve read of his aren’t nearly as good. He has a new book coming out in March (“Before She Knew Him”).

    I wasn’t a fan of American Marriage either.

    Posted 12.26.18 Reply
  12. Tina wrote:

    Ooooo happy to hear that you liked Silver Sparrow as much as An American Marriage! That’s definitely one I need to get to next year.

    Posted 12.26.18 Reply

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