What I’m Reading Now (2/19/18)

Two weeks had gone by since I had the flu, I thought I’d escaped infecting the rest of my family. No such luck…my daughter and my husband both had it last week. The silver lining was that the Olympics were on and, if I have to be housebound, I’d like it to be during the Olympics!

Is it ridiculous to say it’s been stressful keeping up with all this Olympics viewing…and The Bachelor…and The Bachelor Winter Games…and trying to go to bed at a decent time? I probably shouldn’t admit all that in public…

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Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, so I bet you’re seeing a ton of posts sharing the best romances, best couples of literature, “literary crushes,” etc. Well, I’m just not that big a fan of romances…the cheese factor is too much for me. ⠀ _⠀ ⠀ Most people probably wouldn’t even call the books on this list love stories, but they’re the kind of love stories I can handle. The love fits organically into a story with a different focus and is low on the cheese factor.⠀ LINK IN PROFILE WITH FULL LIST⠀ _⠀ ⠀ How do you feel about romances? Do you prefer the traditional or unconventional type?⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ #bookstagram #amreading #bookworm #instabooks #bookblogger #booklover #booklovers #booksofinstagram #bookgram #bookblogger #bookaddict #bookaddiction #valentinesday #lovestories @tjenkinsreid @tayari @ahoffmanwriter @algonquinbooks @atriabooks @simonandschuster @bookofthemonth #bookofthemonth ⠀

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I finished reading…

Castle of Water, Woman in her Thirties
Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge (April 4, 2017)
This is a tough one. It was just too neat and tidy for me…but, lots of readers will love it. There were just too many moments where you have to suspend rational belief for the story to hold up. I did like the ending, though. If you like your stories neatly laid out, give this one a try!
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Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties by Camille Pagan (February 27, 2018)
Finally…the fun (but not silly) read I’d been looking for! It’s an easy read with a thread of darkness…which is how I like my easy reads. Plus, there’s salty humor and real talk about aging, marriage, divorce, and piecing your life back together. This was my first time reading Pagan and I like her style…I’ll definitely be going back to her for light reads in the future!
Affiliate Link: Pre-Order from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobna Rao


Girls Burn Brighter
 by Shobha Rao (March 6, 2018)

I’m 13% through this novel about female friendship in India. It’s average Goodreads rating is 4.3 and I wonder if I’m reading the same book. I’m having trouble getting into the characters and my mind keeps wandering. Has anyone else read it? Should I keep going or is this going to be one of those hyped books (e.g. Sing, Unburied, Sing) that isn’t for me?

I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim fu
The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu (February 13, 2018)

DNF at 25%. This novel felt choppy and I couldn’t get into the characters.

Upcoming reading plans…

Unless some library holds come in…

Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian


The Flight Attendant
 by Chris Bohjalian (March 13, 2018)
Bohjalian’s page turners always have an unique element that makes them stand out from the sea of run-of-the-mill thrillers out there. I’m hoping this will be a good candidate for my 2018 Summer Reading Guide.

was reading…

One Year Ago: I read one of the most polarizing books of last year.

Two Years Ago: I was deep in a reading slump.

How was your reading week?

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29 Comments

  1. Wendy wrote:

    I loved Castle of Water. I wanted it to end happily ever after, tho! I guess it did, in a way….

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I liked the ending! Just everything leading up to it kind of had me rolling my eyes. And I know lots of people loved it!

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  2. Beth F wrote:

    I didn’t have Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties on my radar … now I do. Bummer about the Camp Forevermore book; I still plan to give it a go.

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Let me know what you think! And Woman was a last minute add for me – rec from someone outside the blogging world – and such a nice surprise!

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  3. I’d have quit on The Lost Girls, except I was stuck in the car for a few hours with nothing else to do. It’s really short stories and some I’ve enjoyed, and others I haven’t. I’m at 24% in Girls Burn Brighter, and finally something has happened. I’ve been considering DNFing it, too, but now will give it another chapter or two. (It helps to know you’re not liking it much either. I had the stomach flu the last couple days and my concentration has been low, so I thought that was the problem.)

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Ha – Girls Burn is definitely not a flu book! And I heard the All the Books people talk about Lost Girls and they didn’t mention it’s more like connected short stories! Those types of books never work for me if I’m not aware of the structure going in.

      I was starting to think it was short stories, but I wasn’t positive yet as I didn’t get very far.

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  4. renee wrote:

    Bummer Castle of Water didn’t work out better for you! There was definitely a lot of suspension of disbelief but for me it came easy. I have Girls Burn Brighter but I’m feeling less confident about it after reading what you and Susie thought. I’ve never read Chris Bohjalian but he’s on my must read author list this year

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      So, I’ve now heard Girls Burn Brighter is absolutely brutal. I don’t think I’m going to pick it back up.

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  5. Ugh on the flu – I’m not hearing as much about it so I’m hoping the worst of it has passed. We’ve managed to avoid it so far. *knock on wood*

    Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties is new to me and sounds really good. I grabbed The Flight Attendant on audio yesterday and hope to get to it soon.

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Lucky you! I’m almost finished with Flight Attendant. It’s fine…not my favorite of his thrillers.

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  6. Cori wrote:

    I love Camille Pagan. I highly recommend her 1st book (I think) Life and Other Near Death Experiences. It was funny but relatable. I have Woman Last Seen in her 30’s from NetGalley I will pick up soon, so I’m excited to see you enjoyed it!

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      She’s new to me, but I’m so glad I found her and would love to read some of her backlist! Will keep Near Death Experiences in mind. And, I agree, she was funny and relatable in Woman in 30’s as well. Loved her overall tone.

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  7. Kay wrote:

    Sorry more in your family have had the flu. So ready for this season to be over. Well, I’m also sorry that ‘The Lost Girls’ didn’t work for you. I’m still going to try it as you and I have established that our tastes don’t always sync. LOL

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Haha – so I’m seeing some use for you out of my reviews! I go left, then you should go right! Let me know what you think…

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  8. Kathy Martin wrote:

    Hope everyone is feeling better now. I keep meaning to try Bohjalian but haven’t had a chance yet. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
  9. I hope your family feels better now!

    I am eager to read my copy of An American Marriage…and I loved The Flight Attendant. I’m curious about Last Seen in Her Thirties.

    Enjoy your week! Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      OMG – grab that copy of American Marriage asap!!

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  10. Amanda wrote:

    I hope Girls Burn Brighter gets better for you! I am looking forward to that and also to the Flight Attendant! I need to get that on my library list for sure. I do love his books.

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I never picked it back up 🙁 Been hearing it’s absolutely brutal and I’m not really in the mood for that right now.

      Posted 2.22.18 Reply
  11. I had to laugh at your stress over keeping up with the Olympics—but I DO agree it has been harder this time for some reason. I seem to keep missing the events I want to see. I think maybe it is the time difference. I was able to stream the Rio events live, but these Olympics are 15 hours ahead of me, they aren’t doing anything there until it is evening here, and then I’d have to stay up all night to watch!

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
  12. The Flight Attendant looks good. My post this week.

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
  13. Sorry everybody has been sick, but at least the Olympics are entertaining. I hope your family feels better soon.

    Posted 2.19.18 Reply
  14. Diane wrote:

    Sorry you and family were down and out with the flu.

    Several of the books you featured are also on my wish list.

    Have a great week Sarah.

    Posted 2.20.18 Reply
  15. Norrie wrote:

    I’m sorry Lost Girls wasn’t what you hoped for. I have it on my list too, but kept putting off for a while now.

    Flight Attendant sounds pretty intriguing. Hope you will have more luck with that one.

    Posted 2.20.18 Reply
  16. Michelle wrote:

    I feel like I have read at least one of Pagan’s other novels but now am not so certain. I do have Flight Attendant on my March list of reads. I am really looking forward to getting to it.

    Posted 2.20.18 Reply
  17. Catherine wrote:

    I decided to keep going with Girls Burn Brighter but can see why you wouldn’t. For me, the unending degradation is the hardest part but I’m counterbalancing that by going backlist with another Taylor Jenkins Reid that I read at night. Hoping it makes for easier sleeping.

    I’m adding the Pagan to my list. I’ve never heard of her but this sounds right up my alley.

    Posted 2.20.18 Reply
  18. We have, knock on all the wood possible, mostly avoided any major illnesses this year. Whew! But you’re totally right, Olympics time is the best time to be stuck at home with nothing else to do.

    Posted 2.21.18 Reply
  19. Oh! Are you enjoying Bachelor Winter Games? People keep telling me it’s fun and I should watch it, and I don’t know what to believe.

    Posted 2.23.18 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I loved it! Love the addition of international people and the event challenges. I think they should make Paradise more like Winter Games and I hope it comes back again 🙂

      Posted 2.27.18 Reply

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