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.
Podcast
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!
New on the Blog
- Best Books of 2018 Lists: Best Books of 2018, Most Underrated Gems of 2018, Which Best Books of 2018 Lists Do You Agree With?, 2018 Books That Deserved the Hype…and Those That Didn’t and Best Debuts of 2018
- 2019 Rock Your Reading Tracker – I used my “Rock Your Reading Tracker” this year to track all my reading stats in real time and figure out who my best recommendation sources are…and, my reading QUALITY improved 42% from last year! The new and improved 2019 tracker is now available for $14.99…get more details here!
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I finished reading…
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 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 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.
I was reading…
One Year Ago: It was Christmas Day.
Two Years Ago: It was the day after Christmas.
How was your reading week?
My book club read The Kind Worth Killing and we all liked it. Merry Christmas!
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.
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.
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!
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
Nice assortment of books. I’m working on my January review books now. Come see my week here. Happy holidays and happy reading!
Merry Christmas Eve! Loved these mini reviews. I enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing. The Dreamers and An Anonymous Girl are both on my TBR.
I’ve read and loved The Dreamers too!
How to be Married sounds good. Have fun with your podcast. My weekly update
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.
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!
“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.
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.