My reading has been really good overall this year…I’ve finished very few books I didn’t like (although two were this month) and I haven’t even DNF’d all that many books (only 3 so far this year, which is not many for me). But, there haven’t been many books that have truly blown me away either. Last week, I finally had the “blow me away” reading experience I’d been missing. I was so enthralled in a book that I pushed a lot of other stuff aside to read and finished it in two days.
Last week, I shared that, though I love doing the podcast and it’s gotten a great response, maintaining my current pace of running the blog and producing the podcast weekly without extra childcare was probably unsustainable over the long-term. I floated the idea of moving to a bi-weekly podcast schedule for the summer and no one freaked out. So, that’s probably what I’ll do starting in late May. I’ve also just made another change to my editing process (which is the part of the podcast that takes the most time), so we’ll see if that helps as well. Thanks for all your feedback and support!
Podcast
Episode 10 of the Sarah’s Book Shelves Live podcast, featuring Kelly from The Well-Read Runner, where we talk about Marie Kondo’ing your TBR list and your physical book collection, came out last week!
Episode 11, featuring Katharine from @ReadWithKat, is coming on Wednesday!
New on the Blog
- Why I Start a New TBR List Every Single Year – companion post to podcast Episode 10!
- If you’re missing Pat Conroy, check out these two books!
- 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!
Hosted by The Book Date.
This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link
I finished reading…
Before She Knew Him
Ugh. I was lukewarm liking this thriller (even though I definitely had some issues with it) up until the end, but the ending completely jumped the shark, which is my major beef with psychological thrillers in general. Mini review coming.
Daisy Jones & the Six 
Y’all, I almost didn’t read this book because music isn’t really my thing. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE!! I read it in 2 days, was utterly mesmerized, and it’s my favorite book of 2019 by far. Full review coming.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
I’m currently reading…
White Elephant
I’m about 10% into this suburban neighborhood drama and it’s fine/average so far. The writing is decent, especially for brain candy, but it’s on coming on the heels of Daisy Jones & the Six, which is a tough act to follow. This book needs to find a purpose for me to continue…I’m going to give it 25% to find that purpose.
Upcoming reading plans…
I Miss You When I Blink
This memoir/essay collection about women “having it all,” yet not being happy, is getting tons of rave reviews from people I trust (Annie Jones, Tyler Goodson, Ann Patchett, and Ashley Spivey). And, you know how much I love “women who get women” memoirs. So, I have high hopes for this one. I’ve actually already read the first two essays because it was my Kindle book while I was reading Daisy Jones & the Six in hardcover and they’re good!
How was your reading week?
I’ve been on the fence about Daisy Jones — I think I’ll probably save it for when the hype dies down and my expectations are lowered.
Daisy Jones has been getting a lot of buzz but I’ve been reluctant to pick it up because I didn’t think the last Reese Witherspoon pick I read was all that great. I think I’ll listen to it next now!
I am having a slower paced reading month only right now on my third book of the month. I really liked “Blood Orange” by Harriett Tyce, read but did not love “The Romantics” by Tara Conklin. Right now I am reading “Daisy Jones and The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I am about half way through and I have liked it so far but not been blown away by any means.
I looked back at last years books that I read in March, and there were a lot of C’s that month to. I don’t know hopefully my reading month will get better if not I guess I am just in a reading slump and those do happen from time to time, and hopefully will pass soon.
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear you’re in a slump and also that you and I are on different pages about Last Romantics and Daisy! Those are my only 5 star books of 2019 so far – ha!
I’m on the waiting list at the library for Daisy Jones…
Just finished Running Home by Katie Arnold which is probably one of the best running-based books I’ve ever read. I’m reviewing it on the blog on Friday. Gorgeous writing.
I’m so glad you loved Daisy Jones! I think it’s my favorite book of 2019 so far, too. The audiobook is supposed to be amazing and I may go back and listen to it in the summer. That would be a first for me.
Good to know about White Elephant. Keep me informed on that one. It’s not an ARC for me so I can easily let it go. I’m also curious about I miss you when I blink. The format might be perfect for an audiobook while traveling.
I ditched White Elephant – just didn’t care. Probably also suffered from following Daisy Jones – ha!
I think I might read I’ll Miss You When I Blink soon, i love the sound of it and will need a break from psychopaths! I’m not sure about White Elephant, I’ll wait for your final thoughts on that one
HAA! I’m about 40% through Blink now and it’s really speaking to me! Mary Laura Philpott and I have some similarities – haha!
I’m feeling lukewarm about reading Daisy Jones because the subject matter doesn’t interest me, but the rave reviews I’m reading are making me want to read it anyway!
That’s exactly how I felt and I almost didn’t read it because of that. I’d give it a try anyway!
I’m so glad you loved Daisy Jones!! It’s my favorite of the year by far, too. TBH when I finished it I thought to myself… I could really use one of Sarah’s alcohol/advil posts for this book!! The hangover is REAL.
Haha! I just found a good Advil book for it and thought about doing an Alcohol / Advil post, but those are essentially mini reviews and I had so much to say about Daisy Jones that I wanted to give it a full review!
I’m sorry you didn’t love Before She Knew Him…I just downloaded it.
I’m curious about White Elephant.
Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I’ll be curious to hear what you think – especially about the ending!
LOOOOOOOOVED Daisy Jones and the Six! I was so happy it was a BOTM pick! Read Queenie afterwards, which suffered a little in comparison at first.
I tried two fiction books (one novel and one short story collection) after Daisy and just couldn’t do it. Had to go to nonfiction and that’s working for me.
I’ve been curious about Daisy Jones. I’ll have to move it higher on my wishlist. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
YAY! I’m so glad you liked Daisy as much as I did! And uber curious about Before She Knew Him- I’ll be waiting for that mini review. (I hate when endings jump the shark, too, generally).
Ugh. The whole thing just relied on something I felt was super gimmicky. If you’re going to read it, DM me when you’re done and we can discuss!
And – YES to Daisy Jones! I’m still thinking about it and just love it so much!
I kind of passed by Daisy Jones at first as well, thinking the topic/timeframe wouldn’t interest me much. I think I have to try it, given all the praise! I’m on hold for the audio, which I hear is an “experience,” with multiple narrators. We’ll see–Lincoln in the Bardo was like that and it didn’t work for me. (But, I think I’m going to try to squeeze in Evelyn Hugo first–still can’t believe I haven’t read it yet!)
I felt the exact same way – give it a shot! And, I have heard the audio is a big production! I’ll be interested to hear reports from someone who’s listened to it…I haven’t heard any yet.
Your books are mostly new to me. Have a good week. My weekly updates
I was totally going to pass up Daisy as well. Glad you’ve convinced me otherwise!!
Oh I am so glad Daisy Jones lives up to the hype! I’m afraid to see what my library hold number will be, but thankfully I have plenty to read in the meantime.
Haha – probably about what mine was for Becoming when I put it on hold.
Your books are all new to me so I appreciated the updates.