What I’m Reading Now (4/8/19) – A Double Shot

I was on vacation last week for my kids’ Spring Break, so you probably noticed the blog was quiet and there was no new podcast episode. We had a great week (snorkeling, fishing, sailing, tubing, beach/pool sitting, and eating, of course!) and I got lots of reading done, so I’ve got books to tell you about today! And, my outrageously good March reading seems to be continuing into April. I’ll take it!

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I finished reading…

what I'm reading now

 

Normal Peopleby Sally Rooney (April 16, 2019)
5 stars! This book isn’t for everyone, but I loved the intimate focus on one complex, unconventional relationship. It was kind of sad and disturbing, but also a bit realistic. Mini review coming.
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Miracle Creekby Angie Kim (April 16, 2019)
What an awesome surprise from Book of the Month’s April picks! It’s an extremely thoughtful and literary courtroom drama that’s so much more than a courtroom drama. 5 stars and mini review coming.
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Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis (April 16, 2019)
Helen Ellis’ essay collection about Southern ladies (duh!) was full of mostly (but not all) hits! If you like bawdy humor and spot-on social commentary about the South, this one is for you. Mini review coming.
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The Better Sisterby Alafair Burke (April 16, 2019)
This is my second Burke thriller and I love what she does with thrillers (and, y’all know that means a lot coming from me)! She’s a former prosecutor and it shows in her writing…both of her books I’ve read (The Wife is the other one) have a nice balance of psychological thriller and courtroom drama. And, she hasn’t resorted to outlandish plot twists in either of her books I’ve read.
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I’m currently reading…

Like Lions

 

Like Lionsby Brian Panowich (April 30, 2019)
Like Lions is the sequel to the 2015 Grit Lit thriller Bull Mountain that I absolutely loved. I’m only 30% into Like Lions so far and it hasn’t grabbed me like Bull Mountain did, but I’m certainly interested enough to keep reading.
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I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

 

Cape Mayby Chip Cheek (April 30, 2019)
DNF at 11%
This debut novel about a newlywed couple from Georgia honeymooning in Cape May, New Jersey in the 1950’s and falling in with a group of cosmopolitan socialites was fine, but kind of boring. Not good enough to make my 2019 Summer Reading Guide, so I put it down.

Upcoming reading plans…

Furious Hours

 

Furious Hours by Casey Cep (May 7, Knopf)
I think I’m going to call this one “literary true crime.” Following To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee was apparently writing a true crime book about an Alabama minister who killed his entire family. Furious Hours is the story of that minister, plus Harper Lee’s attempt to write a book about it. 

How was your reading week?

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13 Comments

  1. Miracle Creek is on my TBR list.

    Have a great reading week 🙂

    Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out- MY POST

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  2. Beth F wrote:

    I usually like Helen Ellis, so I have her latest on my list. Miracle Creek and Cape May are here, awaiting my attention. Sounds like you had a great week off!

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  3. I agree with you on Southern Lady Code. Some of the essays were spot-on but others felt like she was trying too hard.

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  4. Sounds like a fantastic Spring Break, Sarah! I’m so excited to know that the next two books on my TBR list were both 5 star reads for you. Looks like I have some great reading coming up. Too bad about Cape May. I’ll still give it a try, but will do in warned. I read and liked Bull Mountain, but don’t know that I’d be up for a sequel. I think it would have to be pretty amazing for me to go for it.

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  5. I’m about 100 pages into Normal People and ready to read it as slow as possible because I already love it and don’t want it to end! I have Miracle Creek up next and just added Like Lions to my TBR! I had no idea Bull Mountain had a sequel coming out! I’m looking forward to seeing what you think.

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  6. I want to read Normal People and The Better Sister. (I love Alafair Burke’s books, including the ones she writes with Mary Higgins Clark).

    Enjoy your week, and here are
    MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  7. Kathy Martin wrote:

    Just looking at the list of things you did makes me tired. I wish I had half your energy. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  8. Everyone is raving about Normal People! I should probably pick it up.

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  9. renee wrote:

    Yay for a fun spring break!! You got a ton of reading done for sure. I’m looking forward to Normal People, The Better Sister was just ok for me. Maybe my expectations were too high

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  10. Looks like an interesting selection of books. Have a good week. My weekly updates

    Posted 4.8.19 Reply
  11. Debi wrote:

    Miracle Creek sounds right up my alley! And I’ve never read anything by Alafair Burke, but The Better Sister sounds like a good one to start with. Or would you recommend one of her backlist first?

    Posted 4.9.19 Reply
  12. Tina wrote:

    Furious Hours sounds like my kind of book. I have to check that one out. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Posted 4.10.19 Reply
  13. Rory wrote:

    Miracle Creek sounds good and has such a striking cover. I have Cape May in my stack, maybe I’ll try to go in with lower expectations.

    Posted 4.10.19 Reply

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